Ben Stokes Takes 6 Scalps in English Test Series Preparation Match
Tour game, Lilac Hill (day one of three)
Development squad 382: Jacks 84, Ben McKinney 67; Stokes 6-52
National team: still to bat
The England captain delivered 6 scalps in his initial appearance following July but the tourists encountered an injury concern involving fast bowler Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up versus the development squad in Perth.
Skipper's Outstanding Comeback
The England captain, returning after nearly four months away with a shoulder problem, bowled 16 overs across three bowling spells for his 6-52 against England Lions – each to catches taken on the leg side.
Wood's Injury Concern
Pace bowler Mark Wood, also making his comeback after nine months away with a knee injury, bowled a scheduled amount of 8 overs before leaving the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring issue. He will receive scanning on Friday.
The Wood situation removed the intensity out of the day, as the Lions were dismissed for three hundred eighty-two on a slow track after an uncontested toss at Lilac Hill.
Team Strategy
The tourists aimed to field first to accumulate bowling time before the first Ashes Test at the main venue, starting on 21 November.
In a possible hint towards their first-Test plans, the visiting team fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialist bowlers plus the captain – and left spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in the Lions.
Batting Highlights
Bethell failed to press his case for inclusion in the Test side, making only two, but Jacks boosted his claim to be selected later in the tour by hitting 84.
Ben McKinney, Cox, teenage Rew and Potts also scored fifties.
Low-key Environment
England's plan to play a solitary warm-up game against the development squad has been questioned by some former players but the captain responded by labeling the critics "past players".
A low-pressure first day in front of a smattering of spectators at Lilac Hill was certainly a world away from what England will face at a sold-out Optus Stadium next week.
Stokes Excellent Performance
The captain was superb in the contest against the Indian team in the home summer, only to push himself to injury. He was absent from the last match with a shoulder tear.
The skipper has not completed a full part in any of England's past four tours because of different fitness issues and the tourists' hopes of winning back the series are vastly diminished if he is absent from any of the five Tests in Australia.
He has been practicing at full pace for 60 days and appeared in good condition on the match day, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his dismissals were gifted.
Will Jacks Pushes Claim
Jacks is unlikely 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 struggling Jacob Bethell with his 84, which came at almost a run a ball.
Prior to the doubt over Wood, the five seamers in the England XI for this game may not have been the attack for the first Test.
Carse missed the first day because of sickness, with his position going to Tongue. Josh Tongue had Lions opener McKinney edging to the keeper just after lunch.
Although Stokes took the scalps, Archer impressed observers. He was energetic with the new ball and once more after lunch, when he caused problems for Will Jacks.
In the omission of Shoaib Bashir and with Mark Wood departing, Root was asked to bowl fourteen overs of his off-spin. It was mediocre fare, costing 117 at an economy of over eight.
Joe Root at least took a scalp in the closing stages when Fisher somehow struck a full toss to the fielder before Archer dismissed with a bouncer Potts for fifty-three with the last delivery of the day.
