Stokes Secures Six Wickets in England Test Series Preparation Match
Tour game, Perth venue (day one of 3)
England Lions 382: Jacks 84, McKinney 67; Stokes 6-52
England XI: awaiting batting
The England captain delivered 6 scalps in his return to play since July but England encountered an fitness worry regarding fast bowler Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up against England Lions in Western Australia.
Captain's Impressive Return
Stokes, making his comeback after approximately four months away with a shoulder problem, delivered sixteen overs across three spells for his 6-52 against the Lions – all to catches on the leg side.
Wood's Injury Concern
Fast bowler Mark Wood, also making his comeback after 9 months away with a knee problem, bowled a pre-planned number of 8 overs before exiting the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring problem. He will have a scan on Friday.
Wood's injury sucked the energy out of the day, as the Lions were dismissed for 382 on a slow, low surface after an automatic toss at Lilac Hill.
Squad Planning
England wanted to field first to get overs in their legs before the first Ashes Test at the main venue, beginning on November 21st.
In a potential indication towards their opening Test strategy, the visiting team selected an fast bowling lineup – four specialists plus the captain – and left off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in the Lions.
Batting Standouts
Bethell failed to press his claim for selection in the Test team, making only two, but Will Jacks boosted his credentials to be selected during the series by hitting 84.
Ben McKinney, Jordan Cox, 17-year-old Rew and Matthew Potts also made fifties.
Low-key Atmosphere
England's plan to play a single practice match against the Lions has been questioned by some ex-players but Stokes hit back by labeling the doubters "former players".
A low-pressure opening day in front of a small crowd of spectators at the ground was certainly a world away from what England will face at a sold-out Optus Stadium the following week.
Stokes Excellent Performance
The captain was superb in the series against India in the domestic season, only to push himself to injury. He was absent from the last match with a shoulder tear.
The captain has not managed a full part in any of the team's previous four series because of various injuries and the tourists' hopes of regaining the series are vastly diminished if he is absent from any of the five matches in the host country.
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 wickets were gifted.
Will Jacks Strengthens Case
Jacks is unlikely to play in the first Test – England look to have revealed 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 almost a run a ball.
Prior to the concern over Wood, the five seamers in the England XI for this game may not have been the attack for the initial match.
Brydon Carse missed the opening day because of illness, with his position going to Josh Tongue. Josh Tongue had Lions opener McKinney caught behind just after lunch.
Though the captain took the scalps, Archer caught the eye. He was lively with the new ball and once more after lunch, when he discomforted Will Jacks.
In the omission of Bashir and with Wood leaving the field, Joe Root was required to deliver 14 overs of his off-spin. It was average performance, conceding 117 at an economy of more than eight.
Joe Root at least claimed a wicket in the closing stages when Matt Fisher somehow struck a full delivery to mid-on before Archer dismissed with a bouncer Matthew Potts for fifty-three with the last delivery of the day.
