Ben Stokes Takes Six Scalps in England Ashes Preparation Match
Tour game, Perth venue (first day of three)
England Lions 382: Jacks 84, McKinney 67; Stokes 6-52
England XI: yet to bat
The England captain achieved 6 scalps in his initial appearance following July but England encountered an injury concern involving Mark Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up against England Lions in Western Australia.
Captain's Outstanding Comeback
Stokes, returning after almost four months away with a shoulder problem, bowled 16 overs across three spells for his six for fifty-two against the Lions – each to catches taken on the leg side.
Mark Wood's Fitness Worry
Fast bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after nine months away with a knee problem, bowled a scheduled amount of 8 overs before exiting the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring issue. He will have a scan on the following day.
Wood's injury removed the intensity out of the day, as the England Lions were bowled out for three hundred eighty-two on a slow, low surface after an uncontested toss at Lilac Hill.
Squad Planning
England wanted to bowl first to get overs in their legs before the first Ashes Test at Optus Stadium, starting on November 21st.
In a potential indication towards their opening Test strategy, the visiting team selected an fast bowling lineup – four specialist bowlers plus Stokes – and omitted off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in the Lions.
Batting Standouts
Jacob Bethell failed to press his case for selection in the Test team, making only two, but Will Jacks boosted his credentials to be selected later in the tour by scoring eighty-four.
McKinney, Jordan Cox, teenage Rew and Potts also scored fifties.
Low-key Environment
The team's decision to play a solitary practice match against the development squad has been criticized by some ex-players but the captain hit back by calling the critics "has-beens".
A low-pressure first day in front of a small crowd of fans at the ground was certainly a world away from what the team will encounter at a sold-out main stadium next week.
Stokes Excellent Return
Stokes was superb in the series against India in the domestic season, only to push himself to injury. He was absent from the final Test with a torn shoulder.
The skipper has not managed a complete participation in any of the team's past four tours because of different fitness issues and the team's chances of winning back the series are vastly diminished if he is absent from any of the five matches in Australia.
He has been bowling at full pace for two months and looked in fine shape on the match day, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his dismissals were gifted.
Will Jacks Strengthens Case
Jacks is not expected to feature in the opening match – England look to have revealed their intentions with the eleven selected here. Still, he may have moved himself ahead of the struggling Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.
Even before the concern over Wood, the five seamers in the team lineup for this match may not have been the attack for the initial match.
Carse was absent from the first day because of sickness, with his position going to Tongue. Tongue had Lions opener Ben McKinney caught behind just after the break.
Though Stokes took the scalps, Archer caught the eye. He was lively with the fresh ball and again after the interval, when he caused problems for Will Jacks.
In the absence of Bashir and with Mark Wood leaving the field, Joe Root was required to bowl fourteen overs of his off-spin. It was average performance, costing 117 at an run rate of over eight.
Joe Root at least claimed a wicket in the closing stages when Fisher somehow hit a full toss to mid-on before Archer dismissed with a bouncer Potts for fifty-three with the last delivery of the day.