Ben Stokes Takes Six Wickets in English Ashes Preparation Match
Tour game, Perth venue (first day of three)
Development squad 382: Will Jacks 84, McKinney 67; Ben Stokes 6-52
England XI: awaiting batting
Ben Stokes produced six wickets in his return to play following July but England faced an fitness worry regarding fast bowler Wood on the first day of their Test preparation against England Lions in Western Australia.
Captain's Impressive Return
The England captain, returning after almost four months out with a shoulder injury, delivered 16 overs across three spells for his six for fifty-two versus the Lions – each to catches taken on the on-side.
Wood's Injury Concern
Pace bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after nine months out with a knee problem, delivered a pre-planned number of eight overs before exiting the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring issue. He will receive scanning on the following day.
Wood's injury removed the intensity out of the day, as the Lions were bowled out for 382 on a slow track after an automatic toss at the venue.
Team Strategy
England aimed to bowl first to get overs in their legs before the initial Test match at the main venue, starting on November 21st.
In a possible hint towards their opening Test strategy, the visiting team selected an all-pace attack – four specialists plus Stokes – and omitted off-spinner Bashir in the development squad.
Batting Performance Standouts
Jacob Bethell failed to press his case for selection in the Test team, making just two runs, but Will Jacks enhanced his claim to be selected later in the tour by swiping 84.
Ben McKinney, Cox, teenage Rew and Matthew Potts also scored half-centuries.
Relaxed Environment
England's decision to play a single practice match against the Lions has been criticized by some ex-players but Stokes hit back by labeling the critics "has-beens".
A relaxed first day in front of a small crowd of fans at Lilac Hill was certainly a world away from what the team will face at a sold-out main stadium next week.
Captain's Excellent Return
The captain was excellent in the series against India in the domestic season, only to push himself to breaking point. He was absent from the last match with a torn shoulder.
The captain has not managed a full part in any of the team's previous four series because of various injuries and the tourists' chances of regaining the Ashes 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 dismissals were gifted.
Jacks Pushes Case
Jacks is unlikely to feature in the opening match – the team look to have shown their intentions with the eleven selected here. Still, he may have moved himself in front of the out-of-sorts Jacob Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at almost a run a ball.
Prior to the concern over Wood, the five seamers in the team lineup for this match may not have been the bowling unit for the first Test.
Brydon Carse missed the opening day because of sickness, with his place going to Josh Tongue. Tongue had Lions opener Ben McKinney caught behind just after lunch.
Although the captain 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 Shoaib Bashir and with Wood departing, Joe Root was required to deliver fourteen overs of his off-spin. It was average performance, conceding 117 at an economy of more than eight.
Root at least claimed a wicket in the final session when Fisher somehow hit a full delivery to mid-on before Archer bounced out Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.
