Stokes Claims 6 Scalps in English Test Series Warm-up
Tour match, Lilac Hill (day one of 3)
Development squad 382: Will Jacks 84, McKinney 67; Stokes 6-52
England XI: still to bat
Ben Stokes produced 6 scalps in his first action since July but the tourists faced an fitness worry involving Mark Wood on the first day of their Test preparation versus the development squad in Perth.
Skipper's Outstanding Return
The England captain, making his comeback after nearly four months away with a shoulder problem, delivered 16 overs across three spells for his 6-52 versus the Lions – each to catches taken on the leg side.
Mark Wood's Fitness Worry
Pace bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after nine months out with a knee problem, bowled a scheduled amount of eight overs before departing the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring issue. He will undergo scanning on Friday.
Wood's injury removed the intensity out of the day, as the Lions were bowled out for three hundred eighty-two on a slow track after an automatic toss at Lilac Hill.
Team Strategy
The tourists wanted to bowl first to build bowling fitness before the first Ashes Test at Optus Stadium, starting on 21 November.
In a potential indication towards their opening Test strategy, the tourists selected an fast bowling lineup – four specialist bowlers plus Stokes – and left off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in the Lions.
Batting Highlights
Bethell failed to press his claim for inclusion in the Test team, making just two runs, but Will Jacks boosted his credentials to be selected during the series by hitting eighty-four.
Ben McKinney, Cox, teenage Rew and Matthew Potts also scored half-centuries.
Low-key Atmosphere
The team's decision to play a single warm-up game against the development squad has been criticized by some ex-players but Stokes responded by labeling the doubters "past players".
A relaxed first day in front of a small crowd of spectators at Lilac Hill was definitely a different experience from what England will face at a packed main stadium the following week.
Captain's Excellent Performance
Stokes was excellent in the contest against India in the home summer, only to push himself to breaking point. He was absent from the last match with a shoulder tear.
The captain has not completed a full part in any of England's past four tours because of various injuries and the team's hopes of regaining the Ashes are significantly reduced if he is absent from any of the five Tests in Australia.
He has been practicing at maximum speed 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 gifted.
Will Jacks Strengthens Case
Will Jacks is not expected to feature in the opening match – the team look to have shown their intentions with the eleven selected here. Still, he may have nudged himself ahead of the out-of-sorts Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at almost a run a ball.
Prior to the concern over Wood, the five seamers in the England XI 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 Tongue. Josh Tongue had Lions opener McKinney edging to the keeper just after the break.
Though Stokes took the scalps, Jofra Archer impressed observers. He was lively with the fresh ball and again after lunch, when he discomforted Jacks.
In the omission of Bashir and with Wood leaving the field, Joe 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.
Joe Root at least took a wicket in the final session when Fisher unexpectedly hit a full toss to the fielder before Jofra Archer bounced out Matthew Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.
