Ben Stokes Secures 6 Wickets in English Ashes Warm-up
Tour match, Perth venue (first day of 3)
Development squad 382: Jacks 84, McKinney 67; Stokes 6-52
National team: awaiting batting
The England captain delivered six wickets in his first action since July but England encountered an fitness worry about fast bowler Wood on the first day of their Test preparation against the development squad in Western Australia.
Captain's Impressive Comeback
The England captain, returning after almost four months away with a shoulder problem, delivered sixteen overs across three spells for his 6-52 versus the Lions – all to catches on the on-side.
Wood's Fitness Concern
Fast bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after 9 months away with a knee problem, 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.
The Wood situation sucked the intensity out of the day, as the Lions were dismissed for 382 on a slow track after an uncontested toss at Lilac Hill.
Squad Planning
England aimed to bowl first to build bowling fitness 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 left off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in the development squad.
Batting Performance Highlights
Bethell failed to press his case for inclusion in the Test team, making only two, but Will Jacks enhanced his credentials to be called upon during the series by scoring eighty-four.
Ben McKinney, Cox, 17-year-old Thomas Rew and Matthew Potts also made fifties.
Relaxed Atmosphere
The team's decision to play a single warm-up game against the Lions has been criticized by some ex-players but Stokes hit back by labeling the doubters "former players".
A relaxed first day in front of a small crowd of fans at the ground was definitely a world away from what the team will encounter at a packed main stadium next week.
Stokes Supreme Performance
The captain was superb in the contest against the Indian team in the domestic season, only to push himself to injury. He missed the final Test with a shoulder tear.
The captain has not completed a full part in any of the team's previous four tours because of various injuries and the tourists' hopes 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 Wednesday, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his wickets were presented.
Jacks Strengthens Claim
Will Jacks is not expected to feature in the opening match – England look to have shown 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 England XI for this match may not have been the attack for the initial match.
Carse was absent from the first day because of illness, with his position going to Josh Tongue. Josh Tongue had opening batsman Ben McKinney caught behind just after lunch.
Although Stokes took the wickets, Archer caught the eye. He was lively with the fresh ball and once more after lunch, when he caused problems for Jacks.
In the absence of Bashir and with Wood leaving the field, Root was required to bowl fourteen overs of his spin bowling. It was average performance, costing 117 at an run rate of over eight.
Joe Root at least claimed a wicket in the final session when Fisher somehow hit a full delivery to the fielder before Archer dismissed with a bouncer Matthew Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.
