Ben Stokes Secures 6 Wickets in English Test Series Preparation Match
Practice game, Perth venue (day one of three)
Development squad 382: Will Jacks 84, Ben McKinney 67; Ben Stokes 6-52
National team: yet to bat
The England captain delivered six wickets in his first action since July but England faced an injury concern involving Mark Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up against the development squad in Perth.
Captain's Impressive Return
The England captain, returning after nearly four months away with a shoulder injury, bowled sixteen overs across three spells for his six for fifty-two versus England Lions – all to catches taken on the leg side.
Mark Wood's Injury Worry
Fast bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after 9 months out with a knee injury, delivered a pre-planned number of 8 overs before exiting the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring issue. He will undergo scanning on the following day.
Wood's injury drained the intensity out of the day, as the Lions were bowled out for 382 on a slow, low surface after an automatic toss at the venue.
Squad Planning
England aimed to bowl first to accumulate bowling time before the first Ashes Test at Optus Stadium, starting on November 21st.
In a possible hint towards their opening Test strategy, the visiting team fielded an all-pace attack – four specialist bowlers plus Stokes – and left off-spinner Bashir in the development squad.
Batting Standouts
Bethell didn't strengthen his claim for inclusion in the Test team, making only two, but Jacks enhanced his claim to be selected during the series by scoring 84.
Ben McKinney, Jordan Cox, teenage Thomas Rew and Matthew Potts also scored fifties.
Low-key Atmosphere
England's decision to play a single warm-up game against the Lions has been criticized by some ex-players but Stokes responded 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 the team will encounter at a sold-out Optus Stadium the following week.
Stokes Supreme Performance
Stokes was superb in the contest against the Indian team in the domestic season, only to strain himself to breaking point. He was absent from the final Test with a shoulder tear.
The captain has not managed a complete participation in any of England's past four series because of different fitness issues and the tourists' chances of regaining the series are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five matches in the host country.
He has been practicing at full pace for 60 days and appeared in fine shape on the match day, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his dismissals were presented.
Will Jacks Pushes Claim
Jacks is not expected to play in the first Test – England look to have shown their intentions with the XI selected here. Nevertheless, he may have nudged himself ahead of the struggling Jacob Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at almost a run a ball.
Even before the concern over Mark Wood, the five fast bowlers in the team lineup for this match may not have been the bowling unit for the first Test.
Carse missed the opening day because of illness, with his place going to Josh Tongue. Josh Tongue had Lions opener McKinney edging to the keeper just after the break.
Although the captain took the wickets, Jofra Archer impressed observers. He was lively with the new ball and once more after lunch, when he discomforted Jacks.
In the absence of Shoaib Bashir and with Wood departing, Root was required to deliver 14 overs of his spin bowling. It was mediocre fare, conceding 117 at an run rate of more than eight.
Joe Root at least took a wicket in the closing stages when Matt Fisher unexpectedly struck a full delivery to mid-on before Archer dismissed with a bouncer Matthew Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.
