Ben Stokes Takes 6 Wickets in English Ashes Preparation Match
Tour match, Lilac Hill (first day of three)
England Lions 382: Will Jacks 84, McKinney 67; Ben Stokes 6-52
National team: awaiting batting
Ben Stokes delivered 6 scalps in his first action following July but the tourists faced an injury concern regarding fast bowler Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up against England Lions in Perth.
Captain's Impressive Return
The England captain, returning after nearly four months out with a shoulder injury, delivered sixteen overs across three spells for his six for fifty-two versus England Lions – each to catches on the leg side.
Wood's Fitness Concern
Pace bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after 9 months out with a knee injury, bowled a scheduled amount of 8 overs before exiting the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring issue. He will have a scan on Friday.
Wood's injury removed the intensity out of the day, as the England Lions were dismissed for 382 on a sluggish pitch after an automatic toss at Lilac Hill.
Squad Strategy
England aimed to bowl first to accumulate bowling time before the initial Test match at Optus Stadium, starting on November 21st.
In a possible hint towards their first-Test plans, the visiting team selected an all-pace attack – four specialist bowlers plus Stokes – and omitted off-spinner Bashir in the development squad.
Batting Performance Standouts
Jacob Bethell didn't strengthen his claim for inclusion in the Test side, making just two runs, but Will Jacks enhanced his claim to be selected later in the tour by scoring 84.
Ben McKinney, Cox, teenage Thomas Rew and Matthew Potts also made half-centuries.
Low-key Atmosphere
The team's plan 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 "has-beens".
A low-pressure first day in front of a small crowd of spectators at Lilac Hill was definitely a different experience from what the team will face at a packed Optus Stadium the following week.
Stokes Supreme Return
The captain was superb 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 completed a full part in any of England's past four tours because of different fitness issues and the tourists' hopes of winning back the series are vastly diminished if he misses any of the five matches in Australia.
He has been bowling at maximum speed for two months and appeared in fine shape on Wednesday, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his wickets were gifted.
Jacks Strengthens Claim
Jacks is unlikely to play in the opening match – England look to have revealed their hand with the XI named here. Nevertheless, he may have nudged himself ahead of the struggling Jacob Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.
Even before the doubt over Mark Wood, the five seamers in the England XI for this game may not have been the attack for the initial match.
Brydon Carse missed the opening day because of sickness, with his place going to Tongue. Tongue had Lions opener Ben McKinney edging to the keeper just after the break.
Although the captain took the scalps, Archer impressed observers. He was lively with the fresh ball and again after the interval, when he discomforted Jacks.
In the absence of Bashir and with Wood departing, Joe Root was required to bowl 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 scalp in the final session when Fisher somehow hit a full delivery to the fielder before Jofra Archer dismissed with a bouncer Matthew Potts for 53 with the final ball of the day.
