Stokes Secures 6 Wickets in English Test Series Warm-up
Practice game, Perth venue (day one of three)
England Lions 382: Jacks 84, Ben McKinney 67; Ben Stokes 6-52
England XI: yet to bat
The England captain delivered six wickets in his initial appearance after July but England faced an injury concern regarding Mark Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up versus England Lions in Perth.
Captain's Outstanding Return
The England captain, making his comeback after almost four months away with a shoulder problem, bowled 16 overs across three spells for his 6-52 versus England Lions – all to catches taken on the leg side.
Mark Wood's Injury Worry
Fast bowler Wood, also making his comeback after nine months out with a knee problem, delivered a pre-planned number of eight overs before leaving the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring issue. He will undergo scanning on Friday.
The Wood situation sucked the energy out of the day, as the Lions were dismissed for three hundred eighty-two on a slow track after an automatic toss at Lilac Hill.
Squad Strategy
The tourists wanted to field first to get overs in their legs before the first Ashes Test at Optus Stadium, starting on November 21st.
In a possible hint towards their opening Test strategy, the tourists fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialist bowlers plus Stokes – and left spin bowler Bashir in the Lions.
Batting Standouts
Bethell failed to press his claim for selection in the Test side, making only two, but Will Jacks boosted his claim to be selected later in the tour by scoring 84.
Ben McKinney, Jordan Cox, teenage Rew and Matthew Potts also made half-centuries.
Low-key Atmosphere
England's plan to play a single practice match against the Lions has been criticized by some ex-players but the captain responded by calling the doubters "has-beens".
A low-pressure opening day in front of a smattering of fans at the ground was certainly a world away from what England will face at a packed main stadium the following week.
Stokes Supreme Performance
Stokes was superb in the contest against India in the domestic season, only to strain himself to injury. He was absent from the last match with a torn shoulder.
The skipper has not completed a full part in any of England's past four tours because of various injuries and the tourists' chances of winning back the series are vastly diminished if he is absent from any of the five Tests in the host country.
He has been bowling at maximum speed for two months and appeared in fine shape on the match day, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his dismissals were gifted.
Will Jacks Pushes Case
Will Jacks is not expected to play in the first Test – the team look to have shown their hand with the XI selected here. Nevertheless, he may have nudged himself in front of the out-of-sorts Jacob Bethell with his 84, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.
Prior to the doubt over Wood, the five seamers in the England XI for this match may not have been the bowling unit for the first Test.
Carse was absent from the opening day because of sickness, with his place going to Tongue. Tongue had opening batsman Ben McKinney edging to the keeper just after lunch.
Though the captain took the wickets, Jofra Archer caught the eye. He was lively with the new ball and once more after the interval, when he caused problems for Will Jacks.
In the omission of Bashir and with Wood leaving the field, Root was required to deliver fourteen overs of his off-spin. It was average performance, conceding 117 at an run rate of over eight.
Root at least took a scalp in the final session when Fisher unexpectedly hit a full delivery to the fielder before Archer bounced out Matthew Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.
