Ben Stokes Secures 6 Scalps in England Test Series Warm-up
Practice match, Perth venue (day one of 3)
Development squad 382: Jacks 84, Ben McKinney 67; Ben Stokes 6-52
England XI: still to bat
The England captain delivered 6 scalps in his first action after July but England faced an fitness worry involving Mark Wood on the first day of their Test preparation versus England Lions in Perth.
Skipper's Impressive Return
Stokes, making his comeback after approximately four months away with a shoulder injury, delivered 16 overs across three spells for his 6-52 against England Lions – all to catches on the leg side.
Wood's Injury Concern
Pace bowler Mark Wood, also making his comeback after 9 months out with a knee injury, bowled a pre-planned number of eight overs before leaving the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring problem. He will receive scanning on Friday.
Wood's injury removed the intensity out of the day, as the England Lions were bowled out for 382 on a slow track after an uncontested toss at Lilac Hill.
Team Planning
The tourists wanted to field first to accumulate bowling time before the first Ashes Test at Optus Stadium, starting on November 21st.
In a possible hint towards their first-Test plans, the tourists selected an fast bowling lineup – four specialist bowlers plus the captain – and left spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in the development squad.
Batting Performance Standouts
Bethell failed to press his claim for inclusion in the Test side, making just two runs, but Will Jacks boosted his claim to be selected during the series by swiping eighty-four.
Ben McKinney, Jordan Cox, 17-year-old Thomas Rew and Matthew Potts also scored half-centuries.
Low-key Environment
The team's plan to play a single practice match against the development squad has been criticized by some former players but Stokes responded by labeling the doubters "former players".
A relaxed opening 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 packed Optus Stadium the following week.
Captain's Excellent Return
Stokes was superb in the contest against the Indian team in the domestic season, only to push himself to breaking point. He was absent from the final Test with a shoulder tear.
The captain has not managed a full part in any of England's previous four tours because of different fitness issues and the team's hopes of winning back the series are vastly diminished if he misses any of the five matches in Australia.
He has been bowling at full pace for 60 days and appeared in fine shape on Wednesday, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his dismissals were presented.
Will Jacks Strengthens Claim
Will Jacks is not expected to feature in the first Test – England look to have shown their hand with the eleven selected here. Still, he may have nudged himself in front of the struggling Jacob Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at almost a run a ball.
Even before the concern over Wood, the five fast bowlers in the team lineup for this game may not have been the bowling unit for the initial match.
Carse was absent from the opening day because of sickness, with his place going to Josh Tongue. Tongue had Lions opener Ben McKinney caught behind just after lunch.
Though the captain took the wickets, Jofra Archer impressed observers. He was energetic with the new ball and again after lunch, when he caused problems for Jacks.
In the omission of Bashir and with Wood departing, Joe Root was required to bowl fourteen overs of his off-spin. It was mediocre fare, conceding 117 at an economy of more than eight.
Joe Root at least took a wicket in the final session when Matt Fisher somehow struck a full toss to mid-on before Archer dismissed with a bouncer Potts for fifty-three with the last delivery of the day.
