Ben Stokes Secures Six Scalps in English Ashes Warm-up
Practice match, Perth venue (first day of three)
Development squad 382: Will Jacks 84, Ben McKinney 67; Stokes 6-52
England XI: yet to bat
Ben Stokes delivered 6 scalps in his return to play since July but the tourists faced an fitness worry involving fast bowler Wood on the first day of their Test preparation versus the development squad in Perth.
Skipper's Outstanding Return
Stokes, making his comeback after almost four months away with a shoulder problem, delivered sixteen overs across three bowling spells for his 6-52 versus the Lions – each to catches taken on the leg side.
Wood's Fitness Worry
Pace bowler Wood, himself returning after 9 months away with a knee injury, bowled a pre-planned number of eight overs before departing the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring issue. He will undergo scanning on Friday.
Wood's injury removed the intensity out of the day, as the England Lions were dismissed for 382 on a slow track after an uncontested toss at Lilac Hill.
Squad Strategy
England wanted to field first to accumulate bowling time before the initial Test match at the main venue, beginning on 21 November.
In a possible hint towards their first-Test plans, the visiting team fielded an all-pace attack – four specialist bowlers plus the captain – and omitted off-spinner Bashir in the Lions.
Batting Performance Standouts
Bethell failed to press his claim for inclusion in the Test side, making just two runs, but Will Jacks enhanced his credentials to be selected during the series by swiping 84.
McKinney, Cox, teenage Rew and Potts also scored half-centuries.
Low-key Environment
The team's plan to play a solitary warm-up game against the development squad has been criticized by some former players but the captain responded by labeling the doubters "past players".
A low-pressure opening day in front of a smattering of fans at Lilac Hill was definitely a world away from what England will encounter at a sold-out Optus Stadium next week.
Captain's Supreme Performance
Stokes was excellent in the series against the Indian team in the home summer, only to strain himself to injury. He was absent from the final Test with a torn shoulder.
The skipper has not managed a full part in any of England's previous four tours because of different fitness issues and the team's hopes of regaining the Ashes are vastly diminished if he is absent from any of the five matches in Australia.
He has been practicing at full pace for two months and looked in fine shape on the match day, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his dismissals were presented.
Jacks Pushes 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 moved himself in front of the struggling Jacob Bethell with his 84, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.
Even before the doubt over Wood, the five seamers in the England XI for this game may not have been the bowling unit for the first Test.
Carse was absent from the first day because of illness, with his place going to Tongue. Josh Tongue had Lions opener McKinney edging to the keeper just after lunch.
Although the captain took the wickets, Archer caught the eye. He was energetic with the new ball and again after the interval, when he discomforted Will Jacks.
In the absence of Shoaib Bashir and with Mark Wood departing, Root was asked to deliver fourteen overs of his off-spin. It was mediocre fare, costing 117 runs at an economy of over eight.
Joe Root at least claimed a scalp in the closing stages when Matt Fisher somehow struck a full delivery to mid-on before Archer dismissed with a bouncer Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.
