Ben Stokes Secures Six Wickets in English Ashes Preparation Match
Tour match, Perth venue (day one of 3)
Development squad 382: Will Jacks 84, McKinney 67; Ben Stokes 6-52
National team: awaiting batting
Ben Stokes achieved 6 scalps in his first action since July but England encountered an injury concern involving Mark Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up versus England Lions in Western Australia.
Captain's Outstanding Comeback
Stokes, returning after approximately four months out with a shoulder injury, bowled sixteen overs across three bowling spells for his 6-52 against England Lions – each to catches on the leg side.
Mark Wood's Injury Worry
Pace bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after 9 months out with a knee injury, bowled a scheduled amount of 8 overs before exiting the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring problem. He will receive scanning on Friday.
Wood's injury sucked the energy out of the day, as the England Lions were bowled out for 382 on a sluggish pitch after an automatic toss at Lilac Hill.
Team Planning
The tourists aimed to bowl first to accumulate bowling time before the first Ashes Test at Optus Stadium, beginning on 21 November.
In a possible hint towards their opening Test strategy, the tourists fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialist bowlers plus the captain – and left spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in the development squad.
Batting Performance Standouts
Jacob Bethell failed to press his case for inclusion in the Test team, making only two, but Jacks boosted his credentials to be selected during the series by hitting eighty-four.
Ben McKinney, Jordan Cox, teenage Thomas Rew and Potts also made fifties.
Relaxed Environment
England's decision to play a solitary warm-up game against the Lions has been questioned by some ex-players but the captain responded by labeling the doubters "past players".
A low-pressure opening day in front of a smattering of fans at Lilac Hill was certainly a world away from what England will encounter at a packed main stadium the following week.
Stokes Supreme Return
Stokes was excellent in the series against the Indian team in the home summer, only to strain himself to breaking point. He missed the final Test with a torn shoulder.
The skipper has not managed a full part in any of England's previous four tours because of various injuries and the tourists' chances of winning back the Ashes are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five Tests in the host country.
He has been practicing at maximum speed for 60 days and looked in good condition on Wednesday, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his dismissals were gifted.
Will Jacks Pushes Claim
Jacks is not expected to feature in the opening match – England look to have revealed their intentions with the XI named here. Still, he may have nudged 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 illness, with his position going to Josh Tongue. Josh Tongue had opening batsman Ben McKinney caught behind just after lunch.
Though Stokes took the wickets, Archer caught the eye. He was lively with the new 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 more than eight.
Root at least claimed a wicket in the closing stages when Matt Fisher somehow hit a full toss to mid-on before Archer dismissed with a bouncer Matthew Potts for fifty-three with the final ball of the day.
