Ben Stokes Claims Six Wickets in England Test Series Preparation Match
Practice match, Perth venue (first day of 3)
Development squad 382: Will Jacks 84, McKinney 67; Ben Stokes 6-52
England XI: still to bat
Ben Stokes achieved six wickets in his first action since July but England encountered an injury concern about Mark Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up versus the development squad in Western Australia.
Skipper's Impressive Comeback
Stokes, returning after approximately four months away with a shoulder injury, delivered sixteen overs across three spells for his six for fifty-two versus the Lions – all to catches on the leg side.
Wood's Fitness Concern
Pace bowler Wood, himself returning after 9 months away with a knee problem, delivered a pre-planned number of eight overs before departing the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring issue. He will undergo scanning on Friday.
Wood's injury drained the intensity out of the day, as the England Lions were dismissed for three hundred eighty-two on a slow track after an uncontested toss at Lilac Hill.
Squad Planning
England wanted to field first to accumulate bowling time before the initial Test match at Optus Stadium, starting on 21 November.
In a possible hint towards their first-Test plans, the tourists fielded an all-pace attack – four specialists plus the captain – and left spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in the development squad.
Batting Performance Standouts
Bethell failed to press his claim for selection in the Test side, making just two runs, but Will Jacks enhanced his credentials to be selected during the series by swiping 84.
McKinney, Jordan Cox, teenage Thomas Rew and Matthew Potts also made fifties.
Relaxed Environment
England's decision to play a single practice match against the development squad has been questioned by some ex-players but Stokes responded by calling the critics "past players".
A relaxed first day in front of a small crowd of fans at the ground was definitely a world away from what England will encounter at a packed main stadium the following week.
Stokes Excellent Performance
The captain was superb in the contest against the Indian team in the home summer, only to strain himself to injury. He missed the final Test with a torn shoulder.
The captain has not completed a complete participation in any of England's previous four tours because of various injuries and the team's hopes of regaining the Ashes are significantly reduced if he is absent from any of the five Tests in the host country.
He has been bowling 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
Jacks is unlikely to feature in the opening match – the team look to have revealed their hand with the XI named here. Still, he may have nudged himself in front of the struggling Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at almost a run a ball.
Even before the concern over Wood, the five seamers in the team lineup for this match may not have been the attack for the first Test.
Brydon Carse was absent from the opening day because of illness, with his position going to Josh Tongue. Josh Tongue had Lions opener McKinney edging to the keeper just after lunch.
Though the captain took the wickets, Archer impressed observers. He was energetic with the fresh ball and once more after the interval, when he discomforted Will Jacks.
In the absence of Shoaib Bashir and with Wood leaving the field, Root was asked to deliver fourteen overs of his spin bowling. It was mediocre fare, costing 117 runs at an economy of over eight.
Joe Root at least claimed a wicket in the closing stages when Matt Fisher unexpectedly struck a full delivery to the fielder before Jofra Archer dismissed with a bouncer Matthew Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.
