Ben Stokes Secures 6 Scalps in England Test Series Warm-up
Tour match, Lilac Hill (first day of 3)
Development squad 382: Jacks 84, Ben McKinney 67; Stokes 6-52
England XI: awaiting batting
The England captain delivered 6 scalps in his initial appearance following July but England encountered an fitness worry regarding Mark Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up against England Lions in Perth.
Captain's Outstanding Return
The England captain, making his comeback after approximately four months out with a shoulder injury, delivered 16 overs across three bowling spells for his 6-52 versus the Lions – each to catches on the on-side.
Wood's Injury Concern
Pace bowler Mark Wood, also making his comeback after nine months away with a knee injury, delivered a pre-planned number of eight overs before leaving the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring issue. He will receive scanning on the following day.
Wood's injury sucked the intensity out of the day, as the Lions were bowled out for 382 on a slow track after an uncontested toss at the venue.
Squad Strategy
The tourists aimed to field first to accumulate bowling time before the first Ashes Test at Optus Stadium, beginning on November 21st.
In a possible hint towards their first-Test plans, the tourists selected an all-pace attack – four specialist bowlers plus the captain – and omitted off-spinner Bashir in the Lions.
Batting Performance Standouts
Bethell failed to press his claim for inclusion in the Test side, making just two runs, but Will Jacks enhanced his credentials to be selected during the series by hitting eighty-four.
McKinney, Cox, teenage Rew and Potts also made fifties.
Low-key Atmosphere
The team's plan to play a solitary practice match against the Lions has been criticized by some ex-players but the captain hit back by calling the doubters "has-beens".
A low-pressure opening day in front of a small crowd of spectators at the ground was definitely a world away from what the team will face at a packed Optus Stadium the following week.
Stokes Excellent Performance
The captain was superb in the contest against the Indian team in the home summer, only to strain himself to injury. He was absent from the last match with a torn shoulder.
The skipper has not managed a complete participation in any of England's previous four series because of different fitness issues and the team's chances of winning back the series are vastly diminished if he is absent from any of the five Tests in Australia.
He has been bowling at full pace for 60 days and appeared in fine shape on Wednesday, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his wickets were gifted.
Will Jacks Pushes Claim
Jacks is not expected to feature in the opening match – the team look to have shown their hand with the XI named here. Still, he may have nudged himself in front of the out-of-sorts Bethell with his 84, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.
Even before the concern over Mark Wood, the five seamers in the team lineup for this match may not have been the bowling unit for the first Test.
Brydon Carse was absent from the opening day because of illness, with his place going to Tongue. Josh Tongue had Lions opener McKinney edging to the keeper just after lunch.
Though Stokes took the scalps, Jofra Archer impressed observers. He was energetic with the new ball and again after the interval, when he caused problems for Jacks.
In the omission of Bashir and with Wood departing, Joe Root was required to bowl fourteen overs of his off-spin. It was average performance, costing 117 at an economy of over eight.
Joe Root at least took a scalp in the final session when Fisher somehow struck a full delivery to mid-on before Archer bounced out Matthew Potts for 53 with the final ball of the day.
