Ben Stokes Secures 6 Scalps in England Test Series Warm-up
Tour game, Lilac Hill (first day of three)
Development squad 382: Will Jacks 84, Ben McKinney 67; Stokes 6-52
England XI: yet to bat
Ben Stokes achieved 6 scalps in his return to play after July but the tourists faced an injury concern involving fast bowler Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up versus England Lions in Western Australia.
Skipper's Outstanding Comeback
The England captain, returning after nearly four months away with a shoulder problem, bowled sixteen overs across three bowling spells for his six for fifty-two versus England Lions – all to catches taken on the leg side.
Mark Wood's Fitness Worry
Fast bowler Wood, also making his comeback after 9 months away with a knee problem, bowled a scheduled amount of 8 overs before leaving the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring issue. He will receive scanning on Friday.
The Wood situation drained the energy out of the day, as the England Lions were bowled out for three hundred eighty-two on a slow, low surface after an automatic toss at the venue.
Team Planning
England aimed to bowl first to accumulate bowling time before the initial Test match at Optus Stadium, starting on November 21st.
In a potential indication towards their first-Test plans, the visiting team fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialists plus the captain – and left off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in the Lions.
Batting Performance Highlights
Bethell failed to press his claim for selection in the Test side, making only two, but Jacks enhanced his claim to be called upon during the series by swiping 84.
Ben McKinney, Cox, teenage Rew and Potts also made half-centuries.
Relaxed Environment
England's decision to play a solitary practice match against the development squad has been criticized by some ex-players but the captain responded by calling the doubters "former players".
A low-pressure opening day in front of a smattering of fans at the ground was certainly a world away from what England will encounter at a sold-out Optus Stadium next week.
Captain's Supreme Performance
Stokes was excellent in the series against the Indian team in the home summer, only to strain himself to breaking point. He was absent from the last match with a shoulder tear.
The skipper has not completed a complete participation in any of the team's previous four tours because of various injuries and the team's chances of winning back the Ashes are vastly diminished if he is absent from any of the five matches in Australia.
He has been bowling 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 presented.
Will Jacks Pushes Case
Jacks is not expected to play in the first Test – England look to have revealed their hand with the XI selected here. Nevertheless, he may have nudged himself ahead of the out-of-sorts Jacob Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at almost a run a ball.
Prior to the doubt over Wood, the five fast bowlers in the team lineup for this match may not have been the attack for the first Test.
Brydon Carse was absent from the first day because of sickness, with his place going to Josh Tongue. Tongue had opening batsman McKinney edging to the keeper just after the break.
Although Stokes took the scalps, Jofra Archer impressed observers. He was energetic with the new ball and again after lunch, when he discomforted Will Jacks.
In the absence of Bashir and with Wood leaving the field, Root was required to bowl fourteen overs of his off-spin. It was mediocre fare, costing 117 at an run rate of more than eight.
Joe Root at least took a scalp in the closing stages when Matt Fisher unexpectedly hit a full delivery to the fielder before Jofra Archer bounced out Matthew Potts for fifty-three with the final ball of the day.
