Stokes Claims 6 Scalps in English Ashes Preparation Match
Practice game, Lilac Hill (day one of three)
Development squad 382: Will Jacks 84, McKinney 67; Stokes 6-52
National team: yet to bat
Ben Stokes achieved six wickets in his return to play following July but the tourists faced an fitness worry about Mark Wood on the opening day of their Test preparation versus the development squad in Western Australia.
Captain's Impressive Comeback
The England captain, making his comeback after approximately four months out with a shoulder injury, delivered sixteen overs across three spells for his six for fifty-two against England Lions – all to catches taken on the leg side.
Wood's Fitness Worry
Fast bowler Wood, also making his comeback after 9 months away with a knee problem, delivered a pre-planned number of 8 overs before departing the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring issue. He will have a scan on Friday.
The Wood situation sucked the intensity out of the day, as the Lions were bowled out for 382 on a slow, low surface after an automatic toss at the venue.
Team Strategy
The tourists aimed to field first to build bowling fitness before the initial Test match at the main venue, beginning on November 21st.
In a possible hint towards their first-Test plans, the visiting team selected an all-pace attack – four specialist bowlers plus the captain – and left off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in the Lions.
Batting Highlights
Bethell failed to press his claim for inclusion in the Test side, making only two, but Will Jacks boosted his credentials to be selected later in the tour by swiping eighty-four.
Ben McKinney, Jordan Cox, 17-year-old Rew and Potts also made half-centuries.
Relaxed Atmosphere
The team's decision to play a solitary warm-up game against the development squad has been criticized by some ex-players but Stokes responded by labeling the critics "has-beens".
A relaxed opening day in front of a small crowd of fans at Lilac Hill was certainly a different experience from what the team will face at a sold-out Optus Stadium the following week.
Captain's Supreme Performance
Stokes was superb in the contest against India in the home summer, only to push himself to breaking point. He missed the final Test with a torn shoulder.
The skipper has not managed a complete participation in any of England's past four tours because of various injuries and the tourists' hopes of regaining the series are significantly reduced 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 the match day, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his dismissals were presented.
Will Jacks Strengthens Claim
Jacks is not expected to feature in the first Test – England look to have shown their hand with the XI selected here. Nevertheless, he may have nudged himself in front of the out-of-sorts Bethell with his 84, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.
Even before the doubt over Mark Wood, the five seamers in the team lineup for this game may not have been the attack for the first Test.
Brydon Carse was absent from the first day because of illness, with his place going to Josh Tongue. Josh Tongue had opening batsman Ben McKinney edging to the keeper just after the break.
Though Stokes took the wickets, Jofra Archer impressed observers. He was energetic with the fresh ball and once more after the interval, when he discomforted Jacks.
In the omission of Bashir and with Mark Wood leaving the field, Joe Root was required to deliver fourteen overs of his off-spin. It was mediocre fare, conceding 117 runs at an economy of over eight.
Joe Root at least took a scalp in the final session when Fisher unexpectedly struck a full delivery to mid-on before Jofra Archer dismissed with a bouncer Potts for fifty-three with the final ball of the day.
