Ben Stokes Takes Six Scalps in English Test Series Preparation Match
Tour game, Perth venue (first day of three)
Development squad 382: Will Jacks 84, Ben McKinney 67; Stokes 6-52
England XI: still to bat
Ben Stokes produced 6 scalps in his initial appearance following July but the tourists encountered an injury concern involving Mark Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up against the development squad in Perth.
Captain's Impressive Comeback
The England captain, returning after almost four months away with a shoulder injury, bowled 16 overs across three spells for his 6-52 against the Lions – each to catches on the on-side.
Mark Wood's Fitness Concern
Pace bowler Wood, himself returning after 9 months away with a knee injury, delivered a pre-planned number of 8 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 intensity out of the day, as the Lions were dismissed for three hundred eighty-two on a slow track after an automatic toss at the venue.
Squad Planning
The tourists wanted to field first to accumulate bowling time before the initial Test match at Optus Stadium, starting on November 21st.
In a potential indication towards their first-Test plans, the tourists selected an fast bowling lineup – four specialists plus the captain – and left off-spinner Bashir in the Lions.
Batting Standouts
Bethell failed to press his claim for selection in the Test team, making just two runs, but Will Jacks enhanced his claim to be selected later in the tour by hitting eighty-four.
McKinney, Jordan Cox, 17-year-old Thomas Rew and Matthew Potts also made fifties.
Low-key Atmosphere
The team's decision to play a solitary warm-up game against the development squad has been questioned by some former players but Stokes responded by labeling the doubters "past players".
A relaxed opening day in front of a smattering of fans at the ground was certainly a different experience from what England will encounter at a sold-out main stadium the following week.
Captain's Supreme Performance
The captain was excellent in the series against the Indian team in the domestic season, only to strain himself to breaking point. He missed the final Test with a shoulder tear.
The skipper has not completed a full part in any of England's past four series because of various injuries and the team's chances of regaining the Ashes are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five matches in the host country.
He has been practicing at maximum speed for 60 days and appeared in fine shape on the match day, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his dismissals were presented.
Jacks Strengthens Claim
Jacks is unlikely to feature in the first Test – England look to have shown their intentions with the eleven selected here. Nevertheless, he may have moved himself in front of the out-of-sorts Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.
Prior to the doubt over Mark Wood, the five seamers in the England XI for this match may not have been the attack for the first Test.
Brydon Carse was absent from the first day because of sickness, with his place going to Josh Tongue. Josh Tongue had Lions opener McKinney caught behind just after the break.
Although Stokes took the scalps, Jofra Archer impressed observers. He was lively with the fresh ball and once more after lunch, when he caused problems for Jacks.
In the omission of Bashir and with Mark Wood departing, Root was asked to bowl fourteen overs of his off-spin. It was average performance, conceding 117 at an economy of over eight.
Root at least claimed a wicket in the closing stages when Matt Fisher unexpectedly hit a full toss to the fielder before Jofra Archer dismissed with a bouncer Potts for fifty-three with the final ball of the day.