Stokes Secures 6 Wickets in England Ashes Preparation Match
Practice game, Lilac Hill (day one of three)
England Lions 382: Jacks 84, McKinney 67; Ben Stokes 6-52
National team: awaiting batting
The England captain produced six wickets in his first action since July but the tourists faced an fitness worry about Mark Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up against England Lions in Perth.
Skipper's Impressive Return
Stokes, making his comeback after nearly four months out with a shoulder injury, bowled sixteen overs across three spells for his six for fifty-two versus the Lions – each to catches on the on-side.
Mark Wood's Injury Concern
Fast bowler Wood, also making his comeback after nine 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 problem. He will have a scan on Friday.
The Wood situation drained the energy out of the day, as the England Lions were bowled out for 382 on a sluggish pitch after an automatic toss at Lilac Hill.
Squad Strategy
The tourists aimed to field first to get overs in their legs before the first Ashes Test at Optus Stadium, beginning on November 21st.
In a possible hint towards their first-Test plans, the visiting team selected an fast bowling lineup – four specialist bowlers plus Stokes – and left spin bowler Bashir in the Lions.
Batting Standouts
Bethell failed to press his claim for selection in the Test side, making only two, but Jacks enhanced his claim to be called upon during the series by scoring 84.
Ben McKinney, Jordan Cox, 17-year-old Rew and Potts also scored fifties.
Low-key Environment
The team's plan to play a single warm-up game against the Lions has been criticized by some ex-players but Stokes responded by labeling the doubters "past players".
A low-pressure first day in front of a small crowd of fans at Lilac Hill was definitely a world away from what England will encounter at a packed main stadium the following week.
Captain's Supreme Performance
Stokes was excellent in the contest against India in the home summer, only to push himself to injury. He was absent from the last match with a torn shoulder.
The captain has not managed a full part in any of England's previous four tours because of different fitness issues and the tourists' hopes of winning back the series are significantly reduced 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 appeared in fine shape on Wednesday, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his wickets were presented.
Jacks Pushes Claim
Will Jacks is unlikely to feature in the opening match – England look to have shown their intentions with the eleven selected here. Still, he may have moved himself ahead of the out-of-sorts Jacob Bethell with his 84, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.
Prior to the doubt over Wood, the five fast bowlers in the team lineup for this game may not have been the bowling unit for the first Test.
Carse was absent from the first day because of illness, with his position going to Josh Tongue. Josh Tongue had opening batsman Ben McKinney edging to the keeper just after lunch.
Although Stokes took the scalps, Jofra Archer caught the eye. He was energetic with the fresh ball and once more after lunch, when he caused problems for Will Jacks.
In the absence of Bashir and with Mark Wood leaving the field, Joe Root was asked to deliver fourteen overs of his off-spin. It was average performance, costing 117 runs at an run rate of over eight.
Root at least took a scalp in the final session when Fisher unexpectedly hit a full delivery to the fielder before Jofra Archer bounced out Potts for fifty-three with the last delivery of the day.
