Ben Stokes Takes Six Wickets in England Test Series Preparation Match
Practice game, Lilac Hill (first day of 3)
England Lions 382: Will Jacks 84, McKinney 67; Ben Stokes 6-52
England XI: still to bat
The England captain delivered 6 scalps in his initial appearance since July but the tourists faced an fitness worry about Mark Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up versus England Lions in Western Australia.
Skipper's Impressive Comeback
The England captain, making his comeback after approximately four months away with a shoulder injury, delivered sixteen overs across three spells for his six for fifty-two versus England Lions – all to catches taken on the leg side.
Wood's Injury Worry
Fast bowler Wood, himself returning after nine months away with a knee problem, delivered a scheduled amount of 8 overs before leaving the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring problem. He will receive scanning on the following day.
The Wood situation sucked the intensity out of the day, as the Lions were dismissed for 382 on a slow track after an uncontested toss at Lilac Hill.
Squad Strategy
England aimed to field first to build bowling fitness before the first Ashes Test at the main venue, beginning on 21 November.
In a possible hint towards their opening Test strategy, the tourists selected an fast bowling lineup – four specialists plus the captain – and left spin bowler Bashir in the Lions.
Batting Highlights
Bethell didn't strengthen 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 swiping eighty-four.
McKinney, Cox, teenage Thomas Rew and Potts also made fifties.
Low-key Environment
England's plan to play a solitary practice match against the development squad has been questioned by some ex-players but Stokes hit back by labeling the critics "former players".
A low-pressure first day in front of a smattering of fans at the ground was definitely a different experience from what the team will encounter at a packed main stadium the following week.
Stokes Supreme Return
The captain was excellent in the series against India in the home summer, only to strain himself to breaking point. He was absent from the final Test with a shoulder tear.
The captain has not managed a full part in any of England's previous four series because of different fitness issues and the tourists' chances of regaining the series are vastly diminished if he is absent from any of the five Tests in the host country.
He has been bowling at maximum speed for two months and appeared in fine shape on Wednesday, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his dismissals were presented.
Jacks Pushes Case
Will Jacks is not expected to play in the opening match – the team look to have revealed their intentions with the XI selected here. Nevertheless, he may have moved himself in front of the out-of-sorts Jacob Bethell with his 84, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.
Prior to the concern over Mark Wood, the five seamers in the England XI for this game may not have been the bowling unit for the first Test.
Brydon Carse was absent from the opening day because of illness, with his place going to Josh Tongue. Tongue had Lions opener McKinney edging to the keeper just after the break.
Though Stokes took the scalps, Jofra Archer caught the eye. He was lively with the new ball and once more after lunch, when he discomforted Jacks.
In the omission of Shoaib Bashir and with Mark Wood departing, Joe Root was asked to deliver 14 overs of his off-spin. It was average performance, costing 117 runs at an run rate of more than eight.
Joe Root at least took a scalp in the final session when Matt Fisher unexpectedly struck a full delivery to the fielder before Archer dismissed with a bouncer Potts for 53 with the final ball of the day.
