Stokes Takes Six Wickets in English Ashes Warm-up
Tour game, Perth venue (first day of 3)
England Lions 382: Will Jacks 84, Ben McKinney 67; Ben Stokes 6-52
National team: still to bat
Ben Stokes achieved 6 scalps in his initial appearance after July but the tourists faced an fitness worry about fast bowler Wood on the first day of their Test preparation versus England Lions in Perth.
Skipper's Outstanding Return
The England captain, making his comeback after almost four months out with a shoulder problem, bowled 16 overs across three bowling spells for his six for fifty-two versus England Lions – all to catches taken on the leg side.
Mark Wood's Fitness Worry
Pace bowler Wood, himself returning after 9 months away with a knee injury, delivered a scheduled amount of eight overs before departing the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring issue. He will have a scan on the following day.
The Wood situation sucked the intensity out of the day, as the Lions were dismissed for 382 on a slow track after an automatic toss at the venue.
Squad Planning
England aimed to field first to accumulate bowling time before the first Ashes Test at Optus Stadium, beginning on 21 November.
In a possible hint towards their opening Test strategy, the tourists selected an all-pace attack – four specialist bowlers plus Stokes – and omitted spin bowler Bashir in the development squad.
Batting Highlights
Bethell didn't strengthen his claim for selection in the Test side, making just two runs, but Will Jacks boosted his claim to be selected later in the tour by swiping eighty-four.
Ben McKinney, Cox, 17-year-old Thomas Rew and Potts also made half-centuries.
Relaxed Environment
The team's plan to play a single warm-up game against the Lions has been criticized by some former players but Stokes responded by calling the doubters "former players".
A relaxed opening day in front of a small crowd of fans at Lilac Hill was certainly a different experience from what England will face at a packed Optus Stadium next week.
Captain's Excellent Performance
The captain was excellent in the series against the Indian team in the domestic season, only to push himself to breaking point. He missed the final Test with a shoulder tear.
The skipper has not completed a complete participation in any of England's past four tours because of different fitness issues and the team's chances of regaining the series are vastly diminished if he misses any of the five Tests in Australia.
He has been bowling at full pace for 60 days and looked in good condition on the match day, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his dismissals were presented.
Jacks Strengthens Claim
Will Jacks is unlikely to play in the opening match – England look to have shown their hand with the XI named here. Nevertheless, he may have nudged himself ahead of the out-of-sorts Bethell with his 84, which came at almost a run a ball.
Prior to the concern over Wood, the five seamers in the England XI for this game may not have been the attack for the first Test.
Brydon Carse was absent from the opening day because of illness, with his place going to Josh Tongue. Josh Tongue had Lions opener Ben McKinney edging to the keeper just after the break.
Although the captain took the wickets, Archer caught the eye. He was lively with the fresh ball and again after the interval, when he caused problems for Will Jacks.
In the absence of Shoaib Bashir and with Wood departing, Root was required to bowl fourteen overs of his off-spin. It was average performance, conceding 117 at an economy of more than eight.
Joe Root at least claimed a wicket in the final session when Fisher unexpectedly struck a full toss to mid-on before Archer dismissed with a bouncer Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.
