Ben Stokes Secures Six Scalps in English Test Series Warm-up
Tour game, Perth venue (day one of three)
Development squad 382: Jacks 84, McKinney 67; Stokes 6-52
England XI: yet to bat
Ben Stokes achieved six wickets in his first action after July but the tourists encountered an fitness worry regarding Mark Wood on the opening day of their Test preparation against the development squad in Perth.
Skipper's Outstanding Comeback
Stokes, making his comeback after nearly four months away with a shoulder injury, delivered 16 overs across three spells for his 6-52 against England Lions – each to catches on the on-side.
Wood's Fitness Worry
Fast bowler Mark Wood, also making his comeback after 9 months out with a knee injury, bowled a pre-planned number of 8 overs before leaving the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring issue. He will receive scanning on Friday.
Wood's injury removed the energy out of the day, as the Lions were bowled out for three hundred eighty-two on a slow track after an automatic toss at Lilac Hill.
Squad Planning
The tourists aimed to field first to accumulate bowling time before the first Ashes Test at Optus Stadium, starting on November 21st.
In a possible hint towards their first-Test plans, the tourists fielded an all-pace attack – four specialists plus the captain – and omitted spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in the development squad.
Batting Performance Highlights
Jacob Bethell didn't strengthen his claim for inclusion in the Test team, making just two runs, but Jacks boosted his credentials to be called upon later in the tour by hitting 84.
McKinney, Cox, teenage Rew and Potts also made half-centuries.
Low-key Environment
England's decision to play a solitary warm-up game against the Lions has been criticized by some ex-players but the captain responded by labeling the doubters "former players".
A low-pressure opening day in front of a smattering of spectators at Lilac Hill was definitely a world away from what England will face at a packed Optus Stadium next week.
Captain's Excellent Return
The captain was superb in the contest against India in the home summer, only to strain himself to breaking point. He missed the last match with a torn shoulder.
The captain has not completed a complete participation in any of the team's past four tours because of different fitness issues and the tourists' hopes of regaining the Ashes are vastly diminished if he misses any of the five matches in Australia.
He has been bowling at maximum speed for 60 days and appeared in good condition on the match day, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his dismissals were gifted.
Will Jacks Pushes Case
Jacks is unlikely to feature in the first Test – England look to have shown their intentions with the eleven selected here. Still, he may have nudged himself in front of the struggling Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at almost a run a ball.
Even before the concern over Mark Wood, the five seamers in the team lineup for this game may not have been the bowling unit for the first Test.
Carse missed the first day because of illness, with his place going to Tongue. Tongue had Lions opener McKinney edging to the keeper just after the break.
Though the captain took the wickets, Jofra Archer impressed observers. He was lively with the new ball and once more after lunch, when he discomforted Will Jacks.
In the absence of Shoaib Bashir and with Mark Wood departing, Root was asked to bowl 14 overs of his spin bowling. It was average performance, costing 117 runs at an run rate of over eight.
Joe Root at least took a scalp in the final session when Matt Fisher somehow hit a full toss to the fielder before Jofra Archer bounced out Matthew Potts for fifty-three with the last delivery of the day.
