Stokes Takes 6 Wickets in English Test Series Preparation Match
Practice match, Perth venue (first day of 3)
England Lions 382: Jacks 84, Ben McKinney 67; Stokes 6-52
National team: yet to bat
Ben Stokes produced six wickets in his first action after July but England faced an injury concern about Mark Wood on the first day of their Test preparation versus the development squad in Western Australia.
Skipper's Outstanding Comeback
Stokes, making his comeback after almost four months away with a shoulder problem, bowled 16 overs across three bowling spells for his 6-52 versus England Lions – all to catches on the on-side.
Wood's Fitness Concern
Pace bowler Wood, himself returning after 9 months out with a knee injury, bowled a pre-planned number of eight overs before exiting the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring problem. He will have a scan on the following day.
Wood's injury sucked the intensity out of the day, as the Lions were dismissed for 382 on a slow track after an automatic toss at the venue.
Team Strategy
The tourists aimed to bowl first to accumulate bowling time before the first Ashes Test at the main venue, beginning on 21 November.
In a potential indication towards their first-Test plans, the visiting team fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialists plus Stokes – and left spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in the Lions.
Batting Performance Standouts
Jacob Bethell didn't strengthen his case for selection in the Test side, making only two, but Will Jacks enhanced his credentials to be called upon later in the tour by hitting eighty-four.
Ben McKinney, Cox, 17-year-old Rew and Potts also made fifties.
Low-key Environment
The team's decision to play a solitary warm-up game against the development squad has been criticized by some ex-players but the captain hit back by calling the doubters "former players".
A low-pressure first day in front of a smattering of fans at Lilac Hill was certainly a different experience from what England will encounter at a packed Optus Stadium the following week.
Stokes Supreme Return
The captain was superb in the contest against India in the home summer, only to push himself to injury. He missed the last match with a torn shoulder.
The skipper has not completed a complete participation in any of the team's previous four series because of various injuries and the team's chances of winning back the Ashes are vastly diminished if he misses any of the five matches in Australia.
He has been bowling at maximum speed for two months and appeared in good condition on the match day, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his dismissals were gifted.
Will Jacks Strengthens Claim
Jacks is not expected to feature in the opening match – the team look to have revealed their hand with the eleven selected here. Nevertheless, he may have nudged himself ahead of the out-of-sorts Jacob Bethell with his 84, which came at almost a run a ball.
Even before the doubt over Mark Wood, the five fast bowlers in the England XI for this game may not have been the attack for the first Test.
Carse missed the opening day because of illness, with his position going to Tongue. Josh Tongue had opening batsman Ben McKinney caught behind just after the break.
Though Stokes took the wickets, Archer impressed observers. He was energetic with the fresh ball and once more after lunch, when he discomforted Jacks.
In the absence of Shoaib Bashir and with Mark Wood departing, Root was required to bowl fourteen overs of his off-spin. It was mediocre fare, conceding 117 runs at an economy of over eight.
Root at least took a wicket in the closing stages when Fisher unexpectedly hit a full delivery to mid-on before Jofra Archer bounced out Potts for 53 with the final ball of the day.