Stokes Secures 6 Wickets in England Test Series Warm-up
Practice game, Perth venue (first day of three)
England Lions 382: Jacks 84, McKinney 67; Ben Stokes 6-52
National team: yet to bat
The England captain produced 6 scalps in his return to play after July but the tourists faced an fitness worry about Mark Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up versus England Lions in Perth.
Captain's Outstanding Return
Stokes, making his comeback after almost four months out with a shoulder injury, bowled sixteen overs across three spells for his six for fifty-two versus England Lions – all to catches on the leg side.
Wood's Injury Concern
Pace bowler Mark Wood, also making his comeback after nine months away with a knee problem, bowled a pre-planned number 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 drained the energy out of the day, as the England Lions were dismissed for 382 on a sluggish pitch after an automatic toss at the venue.
Squad Planning
England wanted to bowl first to build bowling fitness before the initial Test match at the main venue, beginning on November 21st.
In a possible hint towards their first-Test plans, the tourists selected an fast bowling lineup – four specialist bowlers plus the captain – and left spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in the Lions.
Batting Standouts
Bethell didn't strengthen his case for inclusion in the Test side, making only two, but Will Jacks enhanced his claim to be selected later in the tour by swiping 84.
McKinney, Jordan Cox, 17-year-old Thomas Rew and Potts also made half-centuries.
Relaxed Atmosphere
The team's decision to play a solitary warm-up game against the Lions has been questioned by some former players but Stokes responded by calling the critics "former players".
A low-pressure opening day in front of a small crowd of fans at the ground was definitely a world away from what the team will face at a sold-out Optus Stadium next week.
Stokes Excellent Performance
Stokes was superb 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 shoulder tear.
The captain has not completed a complete participation in any of England's previous four series because of different fitness issues and the team's chances of winning back 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 two months and looked in fine shape on Wednesday, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his wickets were presented.
Jacks Pushes Claim
Will Jacks is unlikely to play in the opening match – the team look to have revealed their intentions with the eleven named here. Still, he may have moved himself in front of the struggling Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.
Even before 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.
Carse was absent from the opening day because of illness, with his position going to Josh Tongue. Tongue had opening batsman McKinney caught behind just after lunch.
Although Stokes took the wickets, Archer caught the eye. He was energetic with the fresh ball and again after the interval, when he discomforted Jacks.
In the absence of Shoaib Bashir and with Mark Wood departing, Root was asked to deliver fourteen overs of his spin bowling. It was average performance, conceding 117 at an run rate of over eight.
Root at least claimed a scalp in the final session when Fisher somehow struck a full toss to the fielder before Jofra Archer dismissed with a bouncer Matthew Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.
