Stokes Takes Six Scalps in English Ashes Warm-up
Practice game, Perth venue (day one of three)
England Lions 382: Jacks 84, Ben McKinney 67; Ben Stokes 6-52
England XI: still to bat
Ben Stokes achieved six wickets in his first action following July but England encountered an fitness worry regarding Mark Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up against England Lions in Western Australia.
Captain's Outstanding Comeback
Stokes, returning after approximately four months away with a shoulder injury, bowled sixteen overs across three spells for his six for fifty-two against the Lions – each to catches on the leg side.
Mark Wood's Fitness Worry
Pace bowler Wood, also making his comeback after 9 months out with a knee problem, bowled a scheduled amount of eight overs before departing the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring problem. He will receive scanning on the following day.
Wood's injury drained the energy out of the day, as the England Lions were dismissed for 382 on a slow track after an uncontested toss at Lilac Hill.
Squad Strategy
The tourists aimed to bowl first to build bowling fitness before the first Ashes Test at the main venue, starting on November 21st.
In a potential indication towards their first-Test plans, the tourists selected an all-pace attack – four specialist bowlers plus Stokes – and left spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in the Lions.
Batting Highlights
Jacob Bethell didn't strengthen his case for selection in the Test team, making only two, but Jacks boosted his claim to be selected during the series by hitting eighty-four.
McKinney, Cox, 17-year-old Thomas Rew and Potts also scored fifties.
Relaxed Environment
England's plan to play a single warm-up game against the Lions has been questioned by some former players but the captain hit back by calling the critics "former players".
A low-pressure first day in front of a smattering of spectators at the ground was certainly a different experience from what the team will face at a packed Optus Stadium the following week.
Stokes Supreme Performance
The captain was excellent in the contest against India in the home summer, only to strain himself to injury. He missed the last match with a torn shoulder.
The captain has not completed a full part in any of England's past four tours because of various injuries and the tourists' hopes of regaining the series are vastly diminished if he is absent from any of the five Tests in the host country.
He has been practicing at full pace for 60 days and looked in good condition on the match day, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his dismissals were presented.
Will Jacks Pushes Claim
Will Jacks is not expected to feature in the opening match – the team look to have shown their intentions with the XI named here. Nevertheless, he may have moved himself ahead of the out-of-sorts Bethell with his 84, which came at almost a run a ball.
Prior to the doubt over Wood, the five fast bowlers in the England XI for this game may not have been the attack for the first Test.
Carse was absent from the first day because of sickness, with his position going to Tongue. Josh Tongue had opening batsman Ben McKinney caught behind just after lunch.
Although Stokes took the scalps, Jofra Archer caught the eye. He was energetic with the fresh ball and again after lunch, when he discomforted Will Jacks.
In the absence of Shoaib Bashir and with Mark Wood departing, Root was required to bowl 14 overs of his spin bowling. It was mediocre fare, conceding 117 runs at an economy of over eight.
Root at least claimed a wicket in the final session when Fisher unexpectedly struck a full toss to the fielder before Jofra Archer dismissed with a bouncer Matthew Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.
