Stokes Takes Six Scalps in English Ashes Warm-up
Tour game, Lilac Hill (first day of 3)
England Lions 382: Jacks 84, McKinney 67; Stokes 6-52
England XI: yet to bat
Ben Stokes produced six wickets in his initial appearance since July but England faced an fitness worry about Mark Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up against England Lions in Perth.
Skipper's Outstanding Return
Stokes, returning after approximately four months away with a shoulder injury, bowled 16 overs across three bowling spells for his 6-52 versus England Lions – all to catches taken on the leg side.
Wood's Injury Worry
Fast bowler Wood, also making his comeback after 9 months away with a knee problem, delivered a scheduled amount of 8 overs before leaving the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring issue. He will have a scan on Friday.
The Wood situation removed the energy out of the day, as the Lions were dismissed for 382 on a slow, low surface after an uncontested toss at Lilac Hill.
Squad Planning
England wanted to field first to accumulate bowling time before the initial Test match 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 Shoaib Bashir in the Lions.
Batting Performance Highlights
Jacob Bethell failed to press his case for selection in the Test team, making only two, but Will Jacks enhanced his claim to be called upon later in the tour by hitting 84.
Ben McKinney, Cox, 17-year-old Rew and Potts also scored half-centuries.
Low-key Atmosphere
England's decision to play a single warm-up game against the development squad has been questioned by some ex-players but Stokes hit back by calling the critics "has-beens".
A relaxed opening day in front of a small crowd of fans at Lilac Hill was definitely a world away from what the team will face at a packed main stadium next week.
Captain's Supreme Performance
Stokes was superb in the contest against the Indian team in the domestic season, only to strain himself to breaking point. He was absent from the final Test with a torn shoulder.
The skipper has not completed a complete participation in any of England's past four series because of various injuries and the team's hopes of winning back the series are vastly diminished if he is absent from any of the five matches in the host country.
He has been practicing at full pace for 60 days and looked in fine shape on Wednesday, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his wickets were gifted.
Jacks Strengthens Case
Jacks is not expected to feature in the opening match – England look to have revealed their intentions with the eleven named here. Still, he may have nudged himself ahead of the struggling 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 game may not have been the attack for the first Test.
Brydon Carse missed the opening day because of illness, with his place going to Josh Tongue. Tongue had opening batsman McKinney edging to the keeper just after the break.
Although the captain took the wickets, Jofra Archer caught the eye. He was energetic with the fresh ball and once more after the interval, when he discomforted Jacks.
In the absence of Bashir and with Wood leaving the field, Joe Root was required to deliver fourteen overs of his off-spin. It was average performance, conceding 117 at an run rate of over eight.
Joe Root at least took a wicket in the final session when Fisher somehow struck a full delivery to mid-on before Jofra Archer dismissed with a bouncer Matthew Potts for fifty-three with the last delivery of the day.
