Stokes Claims Six Scalps in England Ashes Warm-up
Tour match, Perth venue (day one of 3)
England Lions 382: Jacks 84, Ben McKinney 67; Ben Stokes 6-52
National team: still to bat
Ben Stokes delivered six wickets in his initial appearance following July but the tourists encountered an fitness worry involving fast bowler Wood on the first day of their Test preparation against England Lions in Western Australia.
Skipper's Impressive Return
Stokes, returning after almost four months away with a shoulder injury, delivered sixteen overs across three bowling spells for his six for fifty-two versus England Lions – each to catches taken on the leg side.
Mark Wood's Fitness Concern
Pace bowler Wood, himself returning after 9 months away with a knee problem, bowled a pre-planned number of 8 overs before leaving the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring problem. He will receive scanning on Friday.
Wood's injury drained the intensity out of the day, as the England Lions were dismissed for three hundred eighty-two on a sluggish pitch after an uncontested toss at Lilac Hill.
Squad Strategy
England wanted to field first to get overs in their legs before the first Ashes Test at Optus Stadium, beginning on 21 November.
In a potential indication towards their first-Test plans, the visiting team selected an all-pace attack – four specialists plus the captain – and omitted 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 boosted his credentials to be called upon during the series by swiping 84.
Ben McKinney, Jordan Cox, 17-year-old Thomas Rew and Matthew Potts also made fifties.
Relaxed Environment
The team's plan to play a single practice match against the Lions has been criticized by some former players but Stokes hit back by calling the critics "former players".
A low-pressure opening day in front of a small crowd of fans at Lilac Hill was certainly a world away from what the team will encounter at a sold-out Optus Stadium next week.
Stokes Supreme Performance
The captain was excellent 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 torn shoulder.
The captain has not completed a complete participation in any of the team's past four tours because of various injuries and the tourists' chances of regaining the Ashes are vastly diminished if he misses any of the five Tests in the host country.
He has been bowling at full pace for 60 days and looked in good condition on the match day, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his wickets were gifted.
Will Jacks Pushes Claim
Jacks is not expected to feature in the first Test – England look to have revealed their hand 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 concern over Mark Wood, the five seamers in the team lineup for this game may not have been the attack for the first Test.
Brydon Carse was absent from the first day because of sickness, with his place going to Tongue. Josh Tongue had opening batsman McKinney edging to the keeper just after lunch.
Though Stokes took the wickets, Jofra Archer caught the eye. He was energetic with the fresh ball and once more after the interval, when he discomforted Will Jacks.
In the omission of Bashir and with Wood leaving the field, Joe Root was required to deliver 14 overs of his off-spin. It was average performance, costing 117 runs at an economy of over eight.
Root at least claimed a scalp in the closing stages when Matt Fisher somehow hit a full toss to the fielder before Jofra Archer bounced out Matthew Potts for fifty-three with the final ball of the day.
