Ben Stokes Claims Six Wickets in English Test Series Warm-up
Practice match, Lilac Hill (day one of 3)
England Lions 382: Will Jacks 84, Ben McKinney 67; Stokes 6-52
England XI: awaiting batting
The England captain produced six wickets in his return to play after July but the tourists faced an fitness worry involving fast bowler Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up against the development squad in Perth.
Captain's Impressive Comeback
Stokes, making his comeback after approximately four months away with a shoulder injury, bowled 16 overs across three spells for his six for fifty-two versus the Lions – all to catches on the leg side.
Mark Wood's Fitness Concern
Pace bowler Mark Wood, also making his comeback after 9 months out with a knee injury, bowled a scheduled amount of 8 overs before leaving the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring problem. He will have a scan on Friday.
The Wood situation removed the energy out of the day, as the Lions were dismissed for 382 on a slow track after an automatic toss at Lilac Hill.
Team Strategy
England aimed to field first to accumulate bowling time before the initial Test match at Optus Stadium, beginning on November 21st.
In a possible hint towards their opening Test strategy, the visiting team fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialists plus the captain – and left off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in the Lions.
Batting Standouts
Bethell didn't strengthen his case 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 hitting eighty-four.
McKinney, Cox, teenage Rew and Potts also made half-centuries.
Relaxed Environment
The team's decision to play a solitary warm-up game against the Lions has been criticized by some ex-players but the captain hit back by labeling the doubters "has-beens".
A relaxed first 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 next week.
Captain's Supreme Return
The captain was excellent in the contest 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 England's past four tours because of different fitness issues and the team's hopes of winning back the Ashes are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five matches in Australia.
He has been bowling at maximum speed 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 presented.
Jacks Pushes Case
Will Jacks is unlikely to feature in the first Test – the team look to have shown their hand with the eleven named here. Still, he may have moved himself ahead of the struggling Jacob 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 England XI for this match may not have been the attack for the first Test.
Brydon 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 the break.
Though Stokes took the scalps, Archer caught the eye. He was lively with the fresh ball and once more after the interval, when he discomforted Will Jacks.
In the omission of Bashir and with Wood leaving the field, Root was required to bowl 14 overs of his off-spin. It was mediocre fare, conceding 117 runs at an economy of more than eight.
Root at least claimed a wicket in the final session when Fisher somehow hit a full delivery to the fielder before Archer dismissed with a bouncer Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.
