Ben Stokes Secures 6 Scalps in England Ashes Warm-up
Practice match, Lilac Hill (day one of 3)
Development squad 382: Jacks 84, McKinney 67; Stokes 6-52
England XI: still to bat
Ben Stokes produced six wickets in his return to play since July but England encountered an injury concern about fast bowler Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up against England Lions in Perth.
Captain's Outstanding Return
Stokes, making his comeback after approximately four months away with a shoulder injury, delivered sixteen overs across three bowling spells for his 6-52 versus the Lions – each to catches taken on the leg side.
Mark Wood's Fitness Worry
Pace bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after nine months out with a knee injury, delivered a pre-planned number of eight overs before leaving the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring problem. He will receive scanning on the following day.
Wood's injury drained the energy out of the day, as the England Lions were dismissed for three hundred eighty-two on a slow, low surface after an automatic toss at the venue.
Team Strategy
The tourists aimed to bowl first to accumulate bowling time before the initial Test match at Optus Stadium, starting on November 21st.
In a possible hint towards their first-Test plans, the tourists fielded an all-pace attack – four specialist bowlers plus the captain – and left off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in the Lions.
Batting Performance Highlights
Bethell failed to press his claim for selection in the Test team, making only two, but Will Jacks boosted his credentials to be selected later in the tour by hitting 84.
McKinney, Cox, teenage Rew and Potts also scored half-centuries.
Low-key Atmosphere
The team's decision to play a single practice match against the development squad has been criticized by some ex-players but the captain hit back by labeling the doubters "past players".
A low-pressure opening day in front of a small crowd of spectators at the ground was certainly a world away from what England will encounter at a packed Optus Stadium next week.
Stokes Excellent Performance
Stokes was excellent in the contest against India in the home summer, only to strain himself to injury. He was absent from the final Test with a shoulder tear.
The captain has not managed a full part in any of the team's previous four series because of different fitness issues and the tourists' chances of winning back the series are vastly diminished if he is absent from any of the five matches in the host country.
He has been bowling at maximum speed for two months and appeared in good condition on Wednesday, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his dismissals were presented.
Will Jacks Strengthens Claim
Will Jacks is unlikely to feature in the opening match – the team look to have revealed their intentions with the eleven named here. Nevertheless, he may have nudged himself ahead of the struggling Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at almost a run a ball.
Even before the concern over Wood, the five seamers in the England XI for this game may not have been the bowling unit for the first Test.
Brydon Carse was absent from the first day because of illness, with his position going to Josh Tongue. Tongue had Lions opener McKinney edging to the keeper just after the break.
Although Stokes took the scalps, Jofra 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 Mark Wood leaving the field, Joe Root was required to deliver fourteen overs of his off-spin. It was mediocre fare, costing 117 at an economy of over eight.
Root at least claimed a wicket in the closing stages when Matt Fisher somehow struck a full toss to mid-on before Jofra Archer dismissed with a bouncer Potts for fifty-three with the final ball of the day.
