Stokes Claims Six Scalps in England Test Series Preparation Match
Practice game, Perth venue (first day of three)
Development squad 382: Jacks 84, Ben McKinney 67; Ben Stokes 6-52
National team: yet to bat
The England captain produced six wickets in his return to play after July but the tourists encountered an injury concern regarding fast bowler Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up against England Lions in Perth.
Captain's Outstanding Return
Stokes, returning after nearly four months away with a shoulder injury, bowled sixteen overs across three spells for his 6-52 versus England Lions – all to catches on the on-side.
Wood's Injury Worry
Pace bowler Wood, himself returning after nine months away with a knee injury, bowled a pre-planned number of 8 overs before departing the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring problem. He will have a scan on the following day.
Wood's injury removed the intensity out of the day, as the England Lions were dismissed for three hundred eighty-two on a slow, low surface after an uncontested toss at the venue.
Team Planning
England aimed to bowl first to accumulate bowling time before the initial Test match at the main venue, starting on November 21st.
In a possible hint towards their opening Test strategy, the visiting team selected an all-pace attack – four specialist bowlers plus the captain – and left off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in the Lions.
Batting Performance Highlights
Bethell didn't strengthen his claim for selection in the Test side, making just two runs, but Will Jacks enhanced his credentials to be called upon during the series by hitting 84.
Ben McKinney, Jordan Cox, 17-year-old Rew and Matthew Potts also scored half-centuries.
Relaxed Environment
England's decision to play a solitary warm-up game against the development squad has been criticized by some ex-players but Stokes responded by calling the critics "has-beens".
A relaxed opening day in front of a small crowd of fans at Lilac Hill was certainly a world away from what England will encounter at a sold-out main stadium next week.
Captain's Excellent Return
Stokes was excellent in the series against India in the domestic season, only to strain himself to breaking point. He missed the last match with a torn shoulder.
The captain has not managed a complete participation in any of England's previous four tours because of different fitness issues and the tourists' chances of winning back the Ashes are significantly reduced if he is absent from any of the five Tests in the host country.
He has been bowling at maximum speed for 60 days and looked in fine shape on Wednesday, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his dismissals were presented.
Will Jacks Pushes Case
Will Jacks is unlikely to feature in the first Test – England look to have shown their intentions with the eleven selected here. Nevertheless, he may have moved himself in front of the struggling Bethell with his 84, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.
Even before the concern over Wood, the five fast bowlers in the team lineup for this game may not have been the attack for the first Test.
Carse missed the first day because of illness, with his place going to Josh Tongue. Tongue had Lions opener McKinney caught behind just after lunch.
Although Stokes took the scalps, Jofra Archer caught the eye. He was lively with the new ball and again after the interval, when he caused problems for Jacks.
In the omission of Bashir and with Mark Wood departing, Joe Root was required to deliver fourteen overs of his spin bowling. It was mediocre fare, conceding 117 at an run rate of more than eight.
Root at least claimed a wicket in the closing stages when Fisher somehow hit a full toss to mid-on before Jofra Archer dismissed with a bouncer Potts for fifty-three with the final ball of the day.