Ben Stokes Takes Six Wickets in English Ashes Preparation Match
Practice game, Perth venue (day one of 3)
England Lions 382: Jacks 84, McKinney 67; Ben Stokes 6-52
National team: still to bat
The England captain delivered six wickets in his first action after July but England faced an injury concern regarding Mark Wood on the opening day of their Test preparation against the development squad in Perth.
Captain's Impressive Comeback
The England captain, returning after nearly four months out with a shoulder problem, delivered 16 overs across three spells for his 6-52 versus the Lions – all to catches taken on the leg side.
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 eight overs before exiting the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring problem. He will receive scanning on Friday.
Wood's injury sucked the energy out of the day, as the England Lions were dismissed for 382 on a slow track after an automatic toss at the venue.
Squad Strategy
The tourists wanted to bowl first to build bowling fitness before the first Ashes Test at the main venue, starting on 21 November.
In a potential indication towards their opening Test strategy, the visiting team selected an fast bowling lineup – four specialists plus the captain – and left off-spinner Bashir in the development squad.
Batting Standouts
Bethell didn't strengthen his case for selection in the Test side, making only two, but Jacks enhanced his credentials to be called upon later in the tour by scoring eighty-four.
Ben McKinney, Cox, 17-year-old Rew and Matthew Potts also made fifties.
Low-key Atmosphere
The team's decision to play a solitary practice match against the development squad has been questioned by some former players but Stokes hit back by calling the doubters "past players".
A low-pressure opening day in front of a smattering of fans at Lilac Hill was certainly a world away from what the team will face at a packed main stadium next week.
Captain's Supreme Return
Stokes was excellent in the series against the Indian team in the home summer, only to push himself to injury. He was absent from the final Test with a shoulder tear.
The captain has not completed a complete participation in any of the team's previous four tours because of various injuries and the tourists' hopes of winning back the Ashes are significantly reduced if he is absent from any of the five matches in Australia.
He has been practicing at maximum speed 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 presented.
Jacks Pushes Case
Jacks is unlikely to feature in the first Test – England look to have revealed their hand with the eleven named here. Nevertheless, he may have nudged himself ahead of the struggling Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.
Prior to the concern over Wood, the five fast bowlers in the England XI for this game may not have been the attack for the first Test.
Carse was absent from the first day because of illness, with his place going to Josh Tongue. Tongue had opening batsman McKinney caught behind just after lunch.
Although Stokes took the scalps, Archer caught the eye. He was lively with the fresh ball and again after lunch, when he caused problems for Jacks.
In the absence of Shoaib Bashir and with Wood departing, Root was required to bowl fourteen overs of his off-spin. It was mediocre fare, costing 117 runs at an run rate of over eight.
Root at least took a wicket in the final session when Matt Fisher unexpectedly struck a full toss to the fielder before Jofra Archer dismissed with a bouncer Potts for fifty-three with the final ball of the day.
