Stokes Secures 6 Scalps in England Ashes Preparation Match
Tour match, Perth venue (day one of 3)
Development squad 382: Will Jacks 84, Ben McKinney 67; Ben Stokes 6-52
England XI: still to bat
Ben Stokes delivered 6 scalps in his return to play since July but England faced an injury concern regarding Mark Wood on the first day of their Test preparation against the development squad in Western Australia.
Skipper's Outstanding Comeback
Stokes, returning after nearly four months out with a shoulder problem, delivered sixteen overs across three bowling spells for his six for fifty-two against the Lions – each to catches on the on-side.
Mark Wood's Fitness Worry
Pace bowler Wood, also making his comeback after nine months out with a knee problem, bowled a scheduled amount of 8 overs before departing the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring problem. He will receive scanning on the following day.
The Wood situation removed the energy out of the day, as the Lions were bowled out for 382 on a slow, low surface after an uncontested toss at Lilac Hill.
Squad Planning
England aimed to field first to build bowling fitness before the first Ashes Test at Optus Stadium, beginning on 21 November.
In a possible hint towards their first-Test plans, the tourists fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialists plus Stokes – and left spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in the development squad.
Batting Performance Standouts
Jacob Bethell failed to press 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 hitting 84.
Ben McKinney, Cox, 17-year-old Thomas Rew and Matthew Potts also made half-centuries.
Relaxed Atmosphere
The team's plan to play a solitary warm-up game against the Lions has been criticized by some former players but Stokes hit back by calling the critics "former players".
A relaxed opening day in front of a smattering of fans at Lilac Hill was certainly a different experience from what the team will encounter at a packed Optus Stadium next week.
Stokes Supreme Return
The captain was excellent in the contest against India in the domestic season, only to strain himself to injury. He missed the final Test with a torn shoulder.
The skipper has not managed a complete participation in any of the team's previous four series because of various injuries and the tourists' hopes of regaining the series are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five Tests in the host country.
He has been practicing at maximum speed for two months and looked in fine shape on the match day, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his wickets were gifted.
Jacks Strengthens Case
Jacks is not expected to play in the first Test – the team look to have revealed their intentions with the eleven selected here. Nevertheless, he may have moved himself ahead of the struggling Bethell with his 84, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.
Even before the doubt over Mark Wood, the five fast bowlers in the team lineup for this match may not have been the bowling unit for the first Test.
Carse missed the first day because of illness, with his position going to Tongue. Tongue had Lions opener McKinney edging to the keeper just after lunch.
Though Stokes took the scalps, Jofra Archer impressed observers. He was lively with the new ball and again after the interval, when he caused problems for Jacks.
In the absence of Bashir and with Wood departing, Root was required to deliver fourteen overs of his off-spin. It was mediocre fare, costing 117 at an economy of over eight.
Joe Root at least took a wicket in the final session when Matt Fisher somehow hit a full toss to mid-on before Archer bounced out Matthew Potts for 53 with the final ball of the day.
