Stokes Claims Six Scalps in English Ashes Warm-up
Tour match, Perth venue (first day of 3)
Development squad 382: Jacks 84, Ben McKinney 67; Ben Stokes 6-52
England XI: still to bat
Ben Stokes produced 6 scalps in his initial appearance after July but England faced an fitness worry about fast bowler Wood on the opening day of their Test preparation versus the development squad in Perth.
Skipper's Impressive Return
Stokes, returning after almost four months away with a shoulder injury, bowled 16 overs across three spells for his six for fifty-two against the Lions – all to catches on the on-side.
Wood's Injury Concern
Fast bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after 9 months out with a knee problem, delivered a pre-planned number of eight overs before departing the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring problem. He will undergo scanning on Friday.
Wood's injury sucked the intensity out of the day, as the England Lions were bowled out for 382 on a slow, low surface after an automatic toss at the venue.
Squad Planning
England wanted to field first to get overs in their legs before the first Ashes Test at the main venue, starting on November 21st.
In a possible hint towards their opening Test strategy, the visiting team fielded an all-pace attack – four specialists plus the captain – and omitted off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in the Lions.
Batting Highlights
Jacob Bethell failed to press his claim for inclusion in the Test team, making just two runs, but Jacks boosted his claim to be called upon later in the tour by scoring 84.
Ben McKinney, Cox, 17-year-old Rew and Matthew Potts also made half-centuries.
Low-key Environment
The team's decision to play a solitary warm-up game against the development squad has been questioned by some former players but Stokes responded by labeling the doubters "has-beens".
A relaxed opening day in front of a small crowd of spectators at Lilac Hill was certainly a different experience from what England will encounter at a packed Optus Stadium the following week.
Captain's Excellent Return
Stokes was excellent in the series against India in the domestic season, only to push himself to breaking point. He missed the final Test with a torn shoulder.
The captain has not managed a complete participation in any of the team's past four series because of various injuries and the team's chances of regaining the series are vastly diminished if he is absent from any of the five Tests in Australia.
He has been practicing at maximum speed for 60 days and appeared in good condition on Wednesday, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his dismissals were presented.
Jacks Pushes Case
Will Jacks is unlikely to play in the first Test – the team look to have revealed their intentions with the eleven selected here. Still, he may have nudged himself ahead of the struggling Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.
Even before the doubt over Mark 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 Tongue. Josh Tongue had opening batsman McKinney caught behind just after lunch.
Although Stokes took the wickets, Archer impressed observers. He was energetic with the fresh ball and again after the interval, when he discomforted Will Jacks.
In the omission of Bashir and with Wood departing, Joe Root was asked to deliver fourteen overs of his off-spin. It was average performance, costing 117 at an run rate of over eight.
Joe Root at least claimed a wicket in the closing stages when Fisher somehow hit a full delivery to mid-on before Jofra Archer bounced out Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.
