Ben Stokes Secures 6 Scalps in England Test Series Warm-up
Practice game, Lilac Hill (day one of 3)
Development squad 382: Jacks 84, Ben McKinney 67; Stokes 6-52
England XI: yet to bat
The England captain produced six wickets in his first action after July but England faced an fitness worry about fast bowler Wood on the opening day of their Test preparation versus the development squad in Western Australia.
Skipper's Outstanding Return
The England captain, returning after almost four months out with a shoulder injury, delivered 16 overs across three spells for his 6-52 against the Lions – all to catches on the leg side.
Mark Wood's Fitness Concern
Fast bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after 9 months out with a knee injury, delivered a pre-planned number of 8 overs before leaving the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring problem. He will have a scan on Friday.
Wood's injury sucked the energy out of the day, as the England Lions were bowled out for three hundred eighty-two on a slow track after an automatic toss at the venue.
Squad Planning
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 all-pace attack – four specialist bowlers plus the captain – and left spin bowler Bashir in the development squad.
Batting Highlights
Bethell didn't strengthen his case for inclusion in the Test side, making just two runs, but Will Jacks enhanced his claim to be called upon later in the tour by swiping eighty-four.
Ben McKinney, Jordan Cox, teenage Thomas Rew and Potts also made half-centuries.
Low-key Environment
England's plan to play a single warm-up game against the Lions has been questioned by some ex-players but Stokes responded by calling the doubters "former players".
A low-pressure first day in front of a smattering of spectators at the ground was certainly a different experience from what England will face at a packed main stadium next week.
Captain's Supreme Return
Stokes was superb in the contest against India in the domestic season, only to push himself to breaking point. He was absent from the final Test with a shoulder tear.
The captain has not managed a complete participation in any of England's previous four series because of various injuries and the team's chances of regaining the Ashes are vastly diminished if he is absent from any of the five matches in the host country.
He has been bowling at full pace for 60 days and appeared in good condition on Wednesday, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his wickets were presented.
Will Jacks Strengthens Claim
Will Jacks is unlikely to play in the first Test – the team look to have shown their hand with the eleven named here. Nevertheless, he may have moved himself ahead of the out-of-sorts Jacob Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.
Even before the concern over Mark Wood, the five seamers in the England XI for this game may not have been the bowling unit for the initial match.
Carse was absent from the first day because of sickness, with his place going to Tongue. Josh Tongue had Lions opener Ben McKinney caught behind just after lunch.
Though 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 Wood leaving the field, Joe Root was required to bowl 14 overs of his spin bowling. It was average performance, conceding 117 at an economy of more than eight.
Root at least claimed a scalp in the final session when Fisher unexpectedly struck a full toss to mid-on before Archer bounced out Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.
