Stokes Takes 6 Wickets in England Ashes Preparation Match
Tour match, Perth venue (first day of 3)
England Lions 382: Will Jacks 84, McKinney 67; Ben Stokes 6-52
England XI: awaiting batting
Ben Stokes achieved six wickets in his return to play since July but the tourists encountered an fitness worry about Mark Wood on the opening day of their Test preparation versus the development squad in Western Australia.
Skipper's Outstanding Return
Stokes, returning after nearly four months out with a shoulder problem, delivered 16 overs across three spells for his 6-52 versus the Lions – all to catches taken on the on-side.
Wood's Fitness Worry
Fast bowler Mark Wood, also making his comeback after 9 months out with a knee problem, delivered a pre-planned number of 8 overs before leaving the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring problem. He will receive scanning on Friday.
The Wood situation drained the energy out of the day, as the England Lions were bowled out for 382 on a slow track after an uncontested toss at Lilac Hill.
Team Strategy
The tourists wanted to field first to build bowling fitness before the initial Test match at Optus Stadium, starting on 21 November.
In a possible hint towards their opening Test strategy, the tourists selected an fast bowling lineup – four specialist bowlers plus Stokes – and left off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in the Lions.
Batting Performance Standouts
Jacob Bethell failed to press his case for selection in the Test side, making just two runs, but Will Jacks boosted his claim to be selected during the series by hitting 84.
Ben McKinney, Jordan Cox, 17-year-old Thomas Rew and Matthew Potts also made fifties.
Relaxed Environment
England's plan to play a single practice match against the Lions has been questioned by some ex-players but Stokes responded by calling the doubters "has-beens".
A relaxed first day in front of a smattering of fans at the ground was definitely a world away from what the team will face at a sold-out main stadium next week.
Captain's Supreme Performance
Stokes was excellent in the contest against the Indian team in the home summer, only to push himself to injury. He missed the final Test with a shoulder tear.
The captain has not completed a full part in any of England's past four series because of various injuries and the team's chances of regaining the Ashes are significantly reduced if he is absent from any of the five matches in Australia.
He has been practicing at full pace for 60 days and looked in fine shape on Wednesday, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his dismissals were presented.
Will Jacks Pushes Claim
Jacks is unlikely to feature in the first Test – the team look to have revealed their hand with the XI named here. Still, he may have moved himself ahead of the struggling Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.
Prior to the concern over Mark Wood, the five seamers in the team lineup for this game may not have been the attack for the initial match.
Carse missed the opening day because of sickness, with his place going to Tongue. Tongue had opening batsman McKinney edging to the keeper just after the break.
Although Stokes took the scalps, Archer impressed observers. He was energetic with the new ball and again after lunch, when he caused problems for Jacks.
In the absence of Bashir and with Mark Wood leaving the field, Joe Root was required to bowl 14 overs of his spin bowling. It was average performance, costing 117 at an economy of more than eight.
Root at least claimed a wicket in the final session when Matt Fisher somehow hit a full toss to mid-on before Archer bounced out Matthew Potts for fifty-three with the last delivery of the day.
