Ben Stokes Takes 6 Scalps in England Ashes Preparation Match
Tour game, Lilac Hill (first day of three)
England Lions 382: Jacks 84, McKinney 67; Stokes 6-52
England XI: awaiting batting
The England captain delivered six wickets in his initial appearance following July but England faced an injury concern involving fast bowler Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up versus the development squad in Perth.
Skipper's Outstanding Comeback
The England captain, making his comeback after approximately four months away with a shoulder injury, bowled 16 overs across three spells for his 6-52 against England Lions – each to catches on the leg side.
Mark Wood's Fitness Worry
Fast bowler Wood, also making his comeback after 9 months away with a knee problem, bowled a pre-planned number of eight overs before leaving the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring issue. He will receive scanning on the following day.
The Wood situation sucked the energy out of the day, as the Lions were dismissed for three hundred eighty-two on a sluggish pitch after an uncontested toss at the venue.
Squad Strategy
The tourists aimed to field first to get overs in their legs before the first Ashes Test at the main venue, beginning on November 21st.
In a possible hint towards their opening Test strategy, the tourists fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialists plus the captain – and omitted off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in the development squad.
Batting Highlights
Bethell failed to press his case for inclusion in the Test team, making only two, but Jacks boosted his claim to be selected during the series by hitting eighty-four.
Ben McKinney, Cox, teenage Rew and Matthew Potts also scored half-centuries.
Relaxed Atmosphere
England's decision to play a solitary practice match against the development squad has been questioned by some former players but the captain hit back by calling the critics "former players".
A relaxed first day in front of a small crowd of spectators at the ground was definitely a world away from what England will encounter at a sold-out main stadium next week.
Stokes Supreme Performance
The captain was excellent in the series 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 captain has not managed a complete participation in any of England's past four tours because of different fitness issues and the tourists' chances of regaining the series are significantly reduced if he is absent from any of the five Tests in Australia.
He has been practicing at full pace for two months and appeared in fine shape on Wednesday, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his wickets were presented.
Will Jacks Strengthens Case
Jacks is unlikely to feature in the opening match – England look to have revealed their intentions with the eleven named here. Nevertheless, he may have nudged himself in front of the struggling Jacob Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at almost a run a ball.
Even before the concern over Wood, the five fast bowlers in the England XI for this match may not have been the attack for the initial match.
Brydon Carse missed the first day because of illness, with his place going to Tongue. Tongue had opening batsman McKinney caught behind just after lunch.
Although Stokes took the wickets, Jofra Archer impressed observers. He was lively with the new ball and once more after lunch, when he caused problems for Jacks.
In the omission of Shoaib Bashir and with Mark Wood leaving the field, Root was asked to bowl fourteen overs of his spin bowling. It was mediocre fare, costing 117 at an economy of over eight.
Root at least claimed a wicket in the final session when Fisher unexpectedly struck a full toss to the fielder before Jofra Archer dismissed with a bouncer Matthew Potts for fifty-three with the last delivery of the day.
