Stokes Secures Six Wickets in English Test Series Warm-up
Tour game, Perth venue (day one of three)
England Lions 382: Jacks 84, Ben McKinney 67; Stokes 6-52
England XI: awaiting batting
The England captain delivered 6 scalps in his initial appearance after July but England encountered an fitness worry regarding Mark Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up against the development squad in Western Australia.
Skipper's Impressive Return
Stokes, making his comeback after almost four months away with a shoulder injury, delivered sixteen overs across three spells for his 6-52 versus the Lions – all to catches on the leg side.
Mark Wood's Fitness Concern
Pace bowler Wood, himself returning after nine months away with a knee injury, delivered a scheduled amount of eight overs before leaving the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring issue. He will have a scan on the following day.
Wood's injury drained the energy out of the day, as the England Lions were bowled out for 382 on a sluggish pitch after an automatic toss at the venue.
Squad Strategy
The tourists wanted to field first to build bowling fitness before the first Ashes Test at Optus Stadium, starting on November 21st.
In a possible hint towards their first-Test plans, the tourists selected an fast bowling lineup – four specialists plus the captain – and omitted off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in the development squad.
Batting Performance Highlights
Bethell didn't strengthen his case for selection in the Test side, making just two runs, but Jacks enhanced his credentials to be called upon during the series by swiping eighty-four.
Ben McKinney, Cox, teenage Rew and Matthew Potts also made half-centuries.
Relaxed Environment
England's decision to play a single warm-up game against the Lions has been questioned by some former players but the captain hit back by calling the critics "former players".
A low-pressure opening day in front of a small crowd of spectators at Lilac Hill was certainly a world away from what the team will encounter at a packed Optus Stadium the following week.
Stokes Excellent Return
Stokes was excellent in the series against the Indian team in the domestic season, only to strain himself to injury. He was absent from the last match with a torn shoulder.
The captain has not managed a full part in any of England's previous four series because of different fitness issues and the tourists' hopes of regaining the Ashes are significantly reduced if he is absent from any of the five Tests in Australia.
He has been bowling at maximum speed for two months and appeared in fine shape on Wednesday, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his dismissals were presented.
Jacks Strengthens Case
Will Jacks is not expected to feature in the first Test – England look to have shown their intentions with the XI selected here. Nevertheless, he may have moved himself in front of the struggling Jacob Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.
Prior to the doubt over Mark Wood, the five seamers in the England XI for this match may not have been the attack for the first Test.
Brydon Carse was absent from the opening day because of sickness, with his position going to Josh Tongue. Josh Tongue had opening batsman McKinney caught behind just after lunch.
Though the captain took the wickets, Archer caught the eye. He was lively with the new ball and again after lunch, when he discomforted Will Jacks.
In the omission of Bashir and with Wood departing, Joe Root was asked to deliver 14 overs of his off-spin. It was average performance, conceding 117 runs at an economy of over eight.
Root at least took a scalp in the closing stages when Fisher unexpectedly struck a full delivery to mid-on before Jofra Archer dismissed with a bouncer Matthew Potts for 53 with the final ball of the day.