Ben Stokes Claims Six Scalps in English Test Series Warm-up
Tour game, Lilac Hill (first day of three)
Development squad 382: Will Jacks 84, McKinney 67; Stokes 6-52
National team: yet to bat
Ben Stokes achieved six wickets in his first action since July but England encountered an injury concern about fast bowler Wood on the opening day of their Test preparation versus England Lions in Perth.
Skipper's Impressive Return
Stokes, returning after approximately four months away with a shoulder injury, bowled 16 overs across three spells for his 6-52 versus the Lions – all to catches on the on-side.
Mark Wood's Fitness Concern
Fast bowler Wood, also making his comeback after 9 months out with a knee problem, bowled a scheduled amount of eight overs before leaving the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring issue. He will receive scanning on Friday.
Wood's injury removed the energy out of the day, as the England Lions were dismissed for 382 on a slow, low surface after an uncontested toss at Lilac Hill.
Squad Strategy
The tourists aimed to field first to build bowling fitness before the initial Test match at Optus Stadium, beginning on 21 November.
In a possible hint towards their first-Test plans, the visiting team selected an fast bowling lineup – four specialists plus Stokes – and omitted off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in the Lions.
Batting Standouts
Jacob Bethell didn't strengthen his claim for selection in the Test side, making only two, but Will Jacks boosted his claim to be selected later in the tour by scoring eighty-four.
Ben McKinney, Jordan Cox, teenage Thomas Rew and Matthew Potts also scored half-centuries.
Low-key Environment
The team's decision to play a single warm-up game against the development squad has been criticized by some former players but Stokes responded by calling the critics "former players".
A relaxed first day in front of a small crowd of fans at the ground was definitely a different experience from what the team will face at a packed main stadium the following week.
Captain's Supreme Performance
Stokes was superb in the contest against the Indian team in the domestic season, only to push himself to injury. He was absent from the final Test with a torn shoulder.
The skipper has not managed a full part in any of the team's past four tours because of various injuries and the tourists' hopes of winning back the Ashes are vastly diminished if he misses any of the five Tests in Australia.
He has been practicing at full pace for 60 days and appeared in good condition on Wednesday, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his dismissals were gifted.
Will Jacks Strengthens Claim
Will Jacks is not expected to feature in the first Test – England look to have revealed their intentions with the XI selected here. Nevertheless, he may have nudged himself in front of the struggling Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.
Prior to the doubt over Wood, the five fast bowlers in the team lineup for this match may not have been the bowling unit for the first Test.
Brydon Carse missed the opening day because of sickness, with his place going to Tongue. Tongue had Lions opener Ben McKinney caught behind just after the break.
Although the captain took the wickets, Jofra Archer impressed observers. He was lively with the new ball and once more after the interval, when he discomforted Will Jacks.
In the absence of Shoaib Bashir and with Mark Wood leaving the field, Joe Root was asked to bowl fourteen overs of his spin bowling. It was mediocre fare, costing 117 at an run rate of more than eight.
Joe Root at least claimed a wicket in the final session when Fisher somehow hit a full toss to the fielder before Archer dismissed with a bouncer Potts for fifty-three with the final ball of the day.
