Ben Stokes Claims Six Wickets in English Ashes Preparation Match
Practice game, Lilac Hill (first day of 3)
England Lions 382: Jacks 84, McKinney 67; Ben Stokes 6-52
National team: still to bat
The England captain delivered 6 scalps in his return to play after July but England encountered an injury concern regarding Mark Wood on the first day of their Test preparation against the development squad in Perth.
Captain's Outstanding Return
Stokes, returning after nearly four months out with a shoulder problem, bowled sixteen overs across three spells for his six for fifty-two versus England Lions – all to catches taken on the on-side.
Mark Wood's Injury Concern
Fast bowler Wood, also making his comeback after 9 months out with a knee injury, bowled a scheduled amount of 8 overs before exiting the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring issue. He will have a scan on Friday.
The Wood situation drained the energy out of the day, as the Lions were dismissed for 382 on a slow, low surface after an automatic toss at Lilac Hill.
Team Planning
England wanted to bowl first to build bowling fitness before the first Ashes Test at Optus Stadium, starting on 21 November.
In a possible hint towards their first-Test plans, the visiting team selected an fast bowling lineup – four specialist bowlers plus Stokes – and omitted spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in the Lions.
Batting Standouts
Bethell didn't strengthen his case for inclusion in the Test side, making just two runs, but Jacks boosted his credentials to be called upon later in the tour by scoring 84.
McKinney, Jordan Cox, 17-year-old Thomas Rew and Potts also made half-centuries.
Relaxed Environment
The team's decision to play a single warm-up game against the development squad has been criticized by some former players but Stokes responded by labeling the critics "past players".
A low-pressure opening day in front of a small crowd of spectators at the ground was definitely a world away from what England will face at a packed main stadium the following week.
Stokes Supreme Performance
Stokes was excellent in the series against the Indian team in the home summer, only to push himself to injury. He missed the final Test with a torn shoulder.
The skipper has not completed a complete participation in any of the team's previous four tours because of various injuries and the team's chances of winning back the series are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five matches in the host country.
He has been bowling at full pace for 60 days and appeared in good condition on Wednesday, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his wickets were presented.
Jacks Strengthens Case
Jacks is unlikely to play in the first Test – the team look to have revealed their hand with the XI named here. Still, he may have moved himself ahead of the out-of-sorts Bethell with his 84, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.
Even before the doubt over Wood, the five seamers in the England XI for this game may not have been the attack for the initial match.
Brydon Carse missed the first day because of illness, with his place going to Josh Tongue. Tongue had Lions opener McKinney edging to the keeper just after the break.
Although Stokes took the scalps, Archer impressed observers. He was lively with the new ball and once more after lunch, when he caused problems for Jacks.
In the omission of Bashir and with Mark Wood departing, Root was asked to bowl 14 overs of his spin bowling. It was mediocre fare, costing 117 runs at an run rate of more than eight.
Root at least claimed a scalp in the final session when Fisher somehow hit a full delivery to the fielder before Archer bounced out Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.
