Stokes Secures Six Wickets in England Test Series Preparation Match
Practice game, Perth venue (day one of 3)
England Lions 382: Will Jacks 84, Ben McKinney 67; Stokes 6-52
National team: yet to bat
The England captain produced six wickets in his initial appearance after July but England faced an fitness worry about Mark Wood on the first day of their Test preparation versus the development squad in Western Australia.
Skipper's Impressive Return
Stokes, making his comeback after nearly four months away with a shoulder injury, bowled 16 overs across three spells for his six for fifty-two versus England Lions – each to catches on the leg side.
Mark Wood's Injury 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 problem. He will receive scanning on Friday.
The Wood situation sucked the energy out of the day, as the Lions were dismissed for 382 on a slow track after an automatic toss at the venue.
Squad Strategy
England wanted to bowl first to build bowling fitness before the initial Test match at the main venue, beginning on 21 November.
In a possible hint towards their first-Test plans, the tourists fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialist bowlers plus the captain – and omitted off-spinner Bashir in the Lions.
Batting Highlights
Jacob Bethell failed to press his claim for selection in the Test side, making just two runs, but Jacks boosted his credentials to be called upon during the series by scoring eighty-four.
McKinney, Jordan Cox, teenage Thomas Rew and Potts also scored half-centuries.
Low-key Atmosphere
The team's decision to play a solitary warm-up game against the Lions has been criticized by some former players but the captain responded by calling the critics "past players".
A relaxed opening day in front of a small crowd of spectators at Lilac Hill was certainly a different experience from what England will face at a sold-out Optus Stadium next week.
Captain's Supreme Return
Stokes was excellent in the series against India in the home summer, only to strain himself to injury. He was absent from the last match with a shoulder tear.
The skipper has not managed a full part in any of England's previous four series because of different fitness issues and the tourists' hopes of winning back the Ashes are vastly diminished if he is absent from any of the five matches in the host country.
He has been bowling at maximum speed for 60 days and appeared in fine shape on Wednesday, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his wickets were presented.
Jacks Pushes Case
Will Jacks is not expected to feature in the first Test – the team look to have revealed their intentions with the XI selected here. Nevertheless, he may have nudged himself ahead of the struggling Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at almost a run a ball.
Prior to the concern over Mark Wood, the five seamers in the England XI for this match may not have been the attack for the initial match.
Brydon Carse missed the opening day because of sickness, with his position going to Tongue. Josh Tongue had opening batsman McKinney caught behind just after lunch.
Though the captain took the wickets, Archer caught the eye. He was energetic with the fresh ball and again after lunch, when he caused problems for Jacks.
In the omission of Bashir and with Wood leaving the field, Root was asked to deliver 14 overs of his off-spin. It was mediocre fare, costing 117 runs at an run rate of over eight.
Root at least claimed a scalp in the closing stages when Matt Fisher somehow struck a full delivery to mid-on before Archer bounced out Matthew Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.
