Stokes Takes 6 Wickets in England Ashes Warm-up
Tour match, Perth venue (first day of 3)
Development squad 382: Jacks 84, Ben McKinney 67; Ben Stokes 6-52
National team: awaiting batting
The England captain produced 6 scalps in his return to play after July but England encountered an injury concern involving Mark Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up versus the development squad in Perth.
Skipper's Outstanding Return
The England captain, returning after nearly four months out with a shoulder problem, delivered 16 overs across three spells for his six for fifty-two against England Lions – all to catches on the on-side.
Mark Wood's Fitness Concern
Fast 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 afternoon session because of a hamstring issue. He will undergo scanning on Friday.
The Wood situation removed the energy out of the day, as the England Lions were bowled out for three hundred eighty-two on a slow track after an uncontested toss at the venue.
Squad Strategy
The tourists wanted to bowl first to get overs in their legs before the first Ashes Test at the main venue, starting on 21 November.
In a possible hint towards their opening Test strategy, the tourists selected an all-pace attack – four specialist bowlers plus the captain – and omitted off-spinner Bashir in the Lions.
Batting Standouts
Jacob Bethell failed to press his claim for inclusion in the Test side, making just two runs, but Jacks boosted his claim to be selected later in the tour by hitting 84.
Ben McKinney, Cox, 17-year-old Thomas Rew and Matthew Potts also made fifties.
Low-key Atmosphere
England's decision to play a single warm-up game against the Lions has been criticized by some ex-players but the captain hit back by labeling the doubters "former players".
A relaxed first day in front of a small crowd of fans at the ground was certainly a world away from what England will face at a packed Optus Stadium the following week.
Captain's Excellent Performance
Stokes was superb in the contest against India in the domestic season, only to strain himself to breaking point. He missed the last match with a torn shoulder.
The skipper has not managed a complete participation in any of the team's past four series because of various injuries and the tourists' chances of winning back the series are significantly reduced if he is absent from any of the five matches in Australia.
He has been bowling at maximum speed for two months and looked in fine shape on the match day, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his wickets were gifted.
Will Jacks Strengthens Case
Will Jacks is unlikely to play in the opening match – England look to have revealed their hand with the XI named here. Nevertheless, he may have nudged himself in front of the struggling 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 match may not have been the attack for the first Test.
Carse missed the first day because of sickness, with his position going to Josh Tongue. Josh Tongue had Lions opener Ben McKinney edging to the keeper just after the break.
Though the captain took the scalps, Jofra Archer impressed observers. He was energetic with the new ball and once more after the interval, when he discomforted Jacks.
In the absence of Bashir and with Mark Wood leaving the field, Joe Root was asked to deliver fourteen overs of his spin bowling. It was average performance, costing 117 at an run rate of more than eight.
Root at least claimed a scalp in the closing stages when Matt Fisher unexpectedly struck a full delivery to mid-on before Jofra Archer dismissed with a bouncer Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.