Stokes Secures Six Scalps in England Test Series Preparation Match
Practice match, Perth venue (first day of 3)
Development squad 382: Will Jacks 84, McKinney 67; Ben Stokes 6-52
England XI: yet to bat
The England captain achieved six wickets in his first action since July but England faced an fitness worry about Mark Wood on the opening day of their Test preparation against the development squad in Western Australia.
Skipper's Impressive Return
Stokes, returning after approximately four months away with a shoulder injury, delivered 16 overs across three bowling spells for his 6-52 versus England Lions – all to catches taken on the on-side.
Wood's Fitness Concern
Fast bowler Wood, himself returning after 9 months away with a knee injury, delivered a scheduled amount of 8 overs before exiting 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 England Lions were dismissed for 382 on a slow track after an automatic toss at the venue.
Team Strategy
The tourists aimed to field first to build bowling fitness before the first Ashes Test at the main venue, starting on 21 November.
In a possible hint towards their opening Test strategy, the visiting team fielded an all-pace attack – four specialists plus Stokes – and omitted off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in the development squad.
Batting Performance Highlights
Jacob Bethell didn't strengthen his case for inclusion in the Test side, making just two runs, but Jacks boosted his credentials to be selected later in the tour by swiping 84.
McKinney, Jordan Cox, teenage Thomas Rew and Matthew Potts also scored half-centuries.
Relaxed Atmosphere
The team's plan to play a single practice match against the Lions has been questioned by some ex-players but Stokes responded by labeling the doubters "former players".
A low-pressure first day in front of a small crowd of fans at Lilac Hill was definitely a world away from what England will face at a packed main stadium next week.
Stokes Supreme Return
The captain was superb in the contest against India in the home summer, only to push himself to breaking point. He was absent from the last match with a torn shoulder.
The skipper has not completed a full part in any of the team's previous four tours because of different fitness issues and the tourists' chances of regaining the Ashes are vastly diminished if he is absent from any of the five Tests in the host country.
He has been bowling at maximum speed for 60 days and looked in good condition on Wednesday, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his dismissals were gifted.
Jacks Pushes Case
Jacks is unlikely to play 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 struggling Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.
Prior to the doubt over Wood, the five seamers in the team lineup for this game may not have been the attack for the first Test.
Carse missed the first day because of illness, with his place going to Josh Tongue. Josh Tongue had Lions opener Ben McKinney caught behind just after the break.
Though Stokes took the wickets, Jofra Archer caught the eye. He was energetic with the new ball and again after lunch, when he caused problems for Will Jacks.
In the omission of Shoaib Bashir and with Mark Wood departing, Joe Root was asked to deliver 14 overs of his off-spin. It was average performance, conceding 117 at an economy of over eight.
Root at least claimed a scalp in the final session when Matt Fisher unexpectedly struck a full toss to the fielder before Jofra Archer dismissed with a bouncer Matthew Potts for 53 with the final ball of the day.
