Ben Stokes Secures 6 Scalps in English Test Series Warm-up
Tour game, Perth venue (first day of 3)
England Lions 382: Jacks 84, McKinney 67; Ben Stokes 6-52
National team: still to bat
Ben Stokes delivered six wickets in his initial appearance after July but England faced an injury concern about Mark Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up against England Lions in Perth.
Captain's Impressive Return
The England captain, making his comeback after nearly four months out with a shoulder problem, delivered 16 overs across three bowling spells for his six for fifty-two versus England Lions – each to catches on the leg side.
Mark Wood's Fitness Worry
Pace bowler Wood, also making his comeback after 9 months away with a knee injury, delivered a scheduled amount of eight overs before departing the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring problem. He will have a scan on Friday.
Wood's injury removed the intensity out of the day, as the Lions were bowled out for 382 on a slow, low surface after an automatic toss at Lilac Hill.
Team Planning
The tourists wanted to field first to accumulate bowling time before the first Ashes Test at the main venue, starting on November 21st.
In a possible hint towards their first-Test plans, the visiting team fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialist bowlers plus Stokes – and omitted spin bowler Bashir in the development squad.
Batting Performance Standouts
Jacob Bethell didn't strengthen his claim for selection in the Test side, making just two runs, but Will Jacks enhanced his credentials to be selected later in the tour by swiping 84.
McKinney, Cox, teenage Thomas Rew and Matthew Potts also made half-centuries.
Low-key Environment
The team's plan to play a solitary warm-up game against the Lions has been questioned by some ex-players but the captain hit back by calling the doubters "has-beens".
A relaxed opening day in front of a small crowd of spectators at the ground was certainly a world away from what England will encounter at a sold-out Optus Stadium the following week.
Captain's Supreme Performance
The captain was excellent in the contest against the Indian team in the home summer, only to strain himself to injury. He was absent from the final Test with a torn shoulder.
The skipper has not completed a complete participation in any of the team's previous four series because of different fitness issues and the team's hopes of regaining the series are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five matches in Australia.
He has been practicing at full pace 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 gifted.
Will Jacks Strengthens Case
Jacks is unlikely to play in the first Test – the team look to have revealed their hand with the eleven selected here. Still, he may have nudged himself ahead of the out-of-sorts Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.
Even before the concern over Mark Wood, the five fast bowlers in the England XI for this match may not have been the attack for the first Test.
Carse missed the first day because of sickness, with his position going to Tongue. Josh Tongue had Lions opener Ben McKinney edging to the keeper just after the break.
Though the captain took the scalps, Jofra Archer impressed observers. He was energetic with the new ball and once more after the interval, when he caused problems for Jacks.
In the absence of Shoaib Bashir and with Wood leaving the field, Root was asked to deliver 14 overs of his spin bowling. It was average performance, costing 117 at an run rate of more than eight.
Joe Root at least took a scalp in the final session when Matt Fisher somehow struck a full delivery to mid-on before Archer bounced out Potts for fifty-three with the last delivery of the day.
