Ben Stokes Takes Six Wickets in English Test Series Warm-up
Tour game, Lilac Hill (day one of three)
Development squad 382: Will Jacks 84, Ben McKinney 67; Stokes 6-52
National team: awaiting batting
Ben Stokes delivered six wickets in his initial appearance after July but the tourists faced an fitness worry involving fast bowler Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up against England Lions in Perth.
Captain's Impressive Return
The England captain, making his comeback after almost four months out with a shoulder injury, delivered 16 overs across three spells for his six for fifty-two against England Lions – all to catches on the leg side.
Wood's Injury Worry
Pace bowler Wood, also making his comeback after nine months away with a knee injury, delivered a scheduled amount of 8 overs before exiting the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring problem. He will receive scanning on the following day.
Wood's injury sucked the intensity out of the day, as the Lions were bowled out for three hundred eighty-two on a slow track after an uncontested toss at Lilac Hill.
Team Planning
England wanted to field first to build bowling fitness before the first Ashes Test at Optus Stadium, beginning on November 21st.
In a possible hint towards their first-Test plans, the tourists fielded an all-pace attack – four specialist bowlers plus the captain – and omitted off-spinner Bashir in the Lions.
Batting Performance Highlights
Jacob Bethell failed to press his claim for selection in the Test side, making just two runs, but Will Jacks enhanced his claim to be called upon later in the tour by swiping 84.
McKinney, Jordan Cox, 17-year-old Thomas Rew and Matthew Potts also made fifties.
Low-key Environment
The team's plan to play a solitary practice match against the Lions has been criticized by some former players but the captain hit back by calling the critics "has-beens".
A relaxed opening day in front of a small crowd of spectators at the ground was definitely a different experience from what the team will encounter at a sold-out Optus Stadium next week.
Stokes Excellent Return
Stokes was superb in the contest against India in the home summer, only to strain himself to breaking point. He was absent from the last match with a shoulder tear.
The skipper has not managed a complete participation in any of England's previous four series because of various injuries and the team's chances of winning back the series are vastly diminished if he misses any of the five matches in the host country.
He has been practicing at full pace for 60 days and appeared in good condition on Wednesday, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his wickets were gifted.
Jacks Pushes Claim
Jacks is not expected to play in the first Test – the team look to have shown their hand with the XI selected here. Nevertheless, he may have moved himself in front of the out-of-sorts 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 team lineup for this game may not have been the attack for the first Test.
Carse missed the first day because of sickness, with his position going to Tongue. Tongue had Lions opener McKinney edging to the keeper just after lunch.
Though the captain took the wickets, Archer caught the eye. He was lively with the fresh ball and once more after lunch, when he caused problems for Will Jacks.
In the absence of Shoaib Bashir and with Mark Wood departing, Joe Root was asked to bowl fourteen overs of his spin bowling. It was mediocre fare, conceding 117 at an run rate of more than eight.
Root at least claimed a scalp in the closing stages when Fisher somehow struck a full toss to the fielder before Archer bounced out Matthew Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.
