Ben Stokes Secures 6 Scalps in English Ashes Warm-up
Tour game, Perth venue (day one of three)
Development squad 382: Will Jacks 84, Ben McKinney 67; Ben Stokes 6-52
National team: still to bat
The England captain produced 6 scalps in his initial appearance following July but the tourists encountered an fitness worry regarding Mark Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up versus England Lions in Western Australia.
Captain's Outstanding Return
The England captain, making his comeback after nearly four months away with a shoulder problem, bowled sixteen overs across three bowling spells for his 6-52 versus the Lions – all to catches taken on the leg side.
Mark Wood's Injury Concern
Fast bowler Wood, also making his comeback after 9 months out with a knee problem, delivered a scheduled amount of 8 overs before exiting the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring problem. He will have a scan on Friday.
The Wood situation sucked the energy out of the day, as the Lions were dismissed for three hundred eighty-two on a slow track after an automatic toss at the venue.
Team Strategy
England aimed to bowl 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 fast bowling lineup – four specialists plus the captain – and omitted spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in the Lions.
Batting Performance Standouts
Jacob Bethell failed to press his claim for inclusion in the Test side, making just two runs, but Jacks enhanced his credentials to be selected later in the tour by hitting eighty-four.
Ben McKinney, Jordan Cox, 17-year-old Thomas Rew and Potts also scored half-centuries.
Low-key Atmosphere
England's decision to play a single practice match against the development squad has been questioned by some former players but Stokes hit back by labeling the doubters "past players".
A low-pressure opening day in front of a small crowd of spectators at the ground was definitely a world away from what England will face at a packed Optus Stadium the following week.
Stokes Supreme Return
Stokes was superb in the series against India in the domestic season, only to push himself to breaking point. He missed the last match with a torn shoulder.
The skipper has not managed a full part in any of the team's past four tours because of different fitness issues and the team's hopes of winning back the Ashes are vastly diminished if he is absent from any of the five matches in the host country.
He has been practicing at full pace for two months and appeared in fine shape on Wednesday, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his dismissals were gifted.
Jacks Pushes Claim
Will Jacks is unlikely to feature in the first Test – England look to have revealed their hand with the XI named here. Nevertheless, he may have moved himself in front of the out-of-sorts Jacob Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.
Even before the doubt over Wood, the five seamers in the team lineup for this match may not have been the bowling unit for the initial match.
Carse missed the first day because of illness, with his position going to Tongue. Josh Tongue had opening batsman McKinney edging to the keeper just after lunch.
Although Stokes took the wickets, Jofra Archer impressed observers. He was lively with the fresh ball and again after lunch, when he caused problems for Will Jacks.
In the absence of Bashir and with Mark Wood leaving the field, Joe Root was asked to bowl 14 overs of his off-spin. It was average performance, conceding 117 runs at an economy of over eight.
Root at least claimed a wicket in the closing stages when Fisher somehow hit a full toss to the fielder before Archer dismissed with a bouncer Matthew Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.