Stokes Secures Six Scalps in English Test Series Warm-up
Tour match, Lilac Hill (first day of three)
Development squad 382: Jacks 84, Ben McKinney 67; Ben Stokes 6-52
England XI: awaiting batting
Ben Stokes achieved six wickets in his first action following July but the tourists faced an fitness worry about Mark Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up against the development squad in Perth.
Captain's Outstanding Return
The England captain, returning after approximately four months out with a shoulder injury, bowled 16 overs across three spells for his 6-52 versus the Lions – each to catches on the leg side.
Wood's Fitness Worry
Pace bowler Mark Wood, also making his comeback after 9 months out with a knee injury, bowled a scheduled amount of eight overs before leaving the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring problem. He will receive scanning on Friday.
The Wood situation removed the energy out of the day, as the Lions were dismissed for three hundred eighty-two on a slow track after an automatic toss at Lilac Hill.
Squad Planning
England wanted to bowl first to build bowling fitness before the first Ashes Test at Optus Stadium, starting on November 21st.
In a possible hint towards their first-Test plans, the tourists selected an fast bowling lineup – four specialists plus the captain – and left off-spinner Bashir in the Lions.
Batting Highlights
Jacob Bethell failed to press his case for inclusion in the Test side, making just two runs, but Jacks enhanced his credentials to be selected later in the tour by swiping eighty-four.
Ben McKinney, Jordan Cox, teenage Rew and Potts also scored half-centuries.
Relaxed Environment
England's plan to play a single practice match against the development squad has been criticized by some former players but Stokes hit back by calling the doubters "former players".
A low-pressure first day in front of a smattering of spectators at the ground was definitely a world away from what England will face at a packed main stadium the following week.
Stokes Supreme Performance
The captain was superb in the contest against the Indian team in the domestic season, only to strain himself to breaking point. He was absent from the last match with a torn shoulder.
The captain has not managed a full part 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 matches in Australia.
He has been bowling 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 wickets were presented.
Jacks Pushes Case
Will Jacks is unlikely to play in the first Test – the team look to have shown their hand with the eleven selected here. Nevertheless, he may have moved himself in front of the out-of-sorts Jacob Bethell with his 84, which came at almost a run a ball.
Prior to the concern over Wood, the five seamers in the team lineup for this game may not have been the attack for the first Test.
Carse missed the opening day because of sickness, with his position going to Tongue. Tongue had Lions opener Ben McKinney edging to the keeper just after the break.
Although Stokes took the scalps, Jofra Archer impressed observers. He was lively with the fresh ball and once more after the interval, when he caused problems for Will Jacks.
In the absence of Bashir and with Mark Wood departing, Joe Root was required to bowl 14 overs of his off-spin. It was average performance, costing 117 runs at an run rate of over eight.
Root at least claimed a scalp in the final session when Matt Fisher unexpectedly hit a full delivery to mid-on before Archer dismissed with a bouncer Potts for fifty-three with the last delivery of the day.
