Stokes Takes 6 Wickets in England Test Series Warm-up
Tour game, Perth venue (day one of three)
Development squad 382: Will Jacks 84, Ben McKinney 67; Stokes 6-52
National team: awaiting batting
Ben Stokes achieved 6 scalps in his initial appearance following July but England faced an fitness worry involving Mark Wood on the first day of their Test preparation versus England Lions in Western Australia.
Captain's Impressive Comeback
The England captain, returning after approximately four months away with a shoulder problem, delivered sixteen overs across three spells for his six for fifty-two versus the Lions – each to catches taken on the on-side.
Wood's Injury Concern
Fast bowler Wood, also making his comeback after 9 months out with a knee problem, bowled a scheduled amount of eight overs before departing the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring issue. He will have a scan on the following day.
The Wood situation sucked the energy out of the day, as the England Lions were dismissed for 382 on a sluggish pitch after an uncontested toss at the venue.
Squad Strategy
The tourists wanted to field first to build bowling fitness before the first Ashes Test at the main venue, beginning on 21 November.
In a potential indication towards their opening Test strategy, the visiting team fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialist bowlers plus the captain – and omitted spin bowler Bashir in the development squad.
Batting Standouts
Jacob Bethell didn't strengthen his case for selection in the Test side, making only two, but Jacks enhanced his credentials to be selected later in the tour by hitting eighty-four.
McKinney, Cox, 17-year-old Thomas Rew and Matthew Potts also made fifties.
Low-key Atmosphere
England's decision to play a single practice match against the Lions has been questioned by some former players but the captain hit back by calling the doubters "past players".
A low-pressure opening day in front of a small crowd of spectators at the ground was certainly a different experience from what England will encounter at a sold-out main stadium the following week.
Stokes Excellent Return
The captain was excellent in the series against the Indian team in the home summer, only to strain himself to injury. He missed the last match with a torn shoulder.
The skipper has not completed a complete participation in any of the team's past four tours because of different fitness issues and the tourists' chances of winning back the Ashes are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five Tests in the host country.
He has been practicing at maximum speed for 60 days and appeared in good condition on Wednesday, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his dismissals were gifted.
Jacks Strengthens Claim
Jacks is not expected to play in the first Test – England look to have revealed their hand with the eleven named here. Nevertheless, he may have nudged himself ahead of the out-of-sorts Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at almost a run a ball.
Even before the doubt over Mark Wood, the five seamers in the team lineup for this game may not have been the attack for the initial match.
Carse was absent from the first day because of sickness, with his place going to Josh Tongue. Josh Tongue had opening batsman McKinney edging to the keeper just after lunch.
Though Stokes took the wickets, Archer caught the eye. He was lively with the new ball and again after lunch, when he caused problems for Jacks.
In the absence of Bashir and with Wood leaving the field, Root was asked to bowl fourteen overs of his spin bowling. It was mediocre fare, conceding 117 runs at an run rate of more than eight.
Joe Root at least took a wicket in the final session when Fisher somehow struck a full toss to mid-on before Archer dismissed with a bouncer Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.
