Ben Stokes Secures Six Scalps in English Ashes Warm-up
Practice game, Lilac Hill (day one of 3)
England Lions 382: Jacks 84, McKinney 67; Stokes 6-52
England XI: still to bat
Ben Stokes produced six wickets in his return to play after July but the tourists faced an injury concern involving fast bowler Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up versus England Lions in Perth.
Captain's Outstanding Return
Stokes, making his comeback after approximately four months away with a shoulder problem, bowled 16 overs across three spells for his 6-52 versus the Lions – all to catches on the leg side.
Mark Wood's Injury Worry
Pace bowler Wood, himself returning after nine months away with a knee injury, bowled a pre-planned number of 8 overs before exiting the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring problem. He will undergo scanning on the following day.
Wood's injury sucked the intensity out of the day, as the Lions were bowled out for 382 on a slow track after an automatic toss at the venue.
Squad Strategy
England wanted to field first to get overs in their legs before the initial Test match at the main venue, starting on 21 November.
In a potential indication towards their opening Test strategy, the tourists fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialists plus Stokes – and left off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in the development squad.
Batting Standouts
Jacob Bethell didn't strengthen his claim for inclusion in the Test team, making just two runs, but Will Jacks enhanced his claim to be selected during the series by scoring 84.
McKinney, Cox, teenage Thomas Rew and Potts also made fifties.
Low-key Environment
England's plan to play a single warm-up game against the Lions has been criticized by some former players but Stokes hit back by labeling the doubters "former players".
A low-pressure opening day in front of a small crowd of spectators at the ground was definitely a different experience from what England will face at a packed main stadium the following week.
Stokes Supreme Performance
Stokes was excellent in the series against the Indian team 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 completed a complete participation in any of the team's previous four tours because of different fitness issues and the tourists' chances of winning back the series are vastly diminished if he misses any of the five Tests in Australia.
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 dismissals were presented.
Will Jacks Pushes Case
Jacks is unlikely to feature in the first Test – England look to have revealed their hand with the XI named here. Nevertheless, he may have moved himself in front of the struggling Jacob Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.
Prior to the concern over Wood, the five fast bowlers in the England XI for this game may not have been the bowling unit for the initial match.
Carse was absent from the opening day because of illness, with his place going to Josh Tongue. Tongue had Lions opener Ben McKinney edging to the keeper just after lunch.
Although Stokes took the scalps, Jofra Archer caught the eye. He was lively with the new ball and once more after lunch, when he discomforted Jacks.
In the absence of Bashir and with Mark Wood departing, Root was required to bowl fourteen overs of his off-spin. It was average performance, costing 117 runs at an run rate of more than eight.
Root at least took a wicket in the closing stages when Matt Fisher somehow hit a full delivery to mid-on before Archer dismissed with a bouncer Matthew Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.
