Stokes Secures Six Scalps in English Test Series Warm-up
Practice match, Lilac Hill (day one of three)
England Lions 382: Jacks 84, Ben McKinney 67; Ben Stokes 6-52
National team: still to bat
Ben Stokes delivered six wickets in his initial appearance since July but England encountered an fitness worry regarding Mark Wood on the opening day of their Test preparation against England Lions in Western Australia.
Captain's Impressive Return
Stokes, returning after nearly four months out with a shoulder injury, bowled 16 overs across three bowling spells for his 6-52 against England Lions – all to catches taken on the leg side.
Wood's Injury Worry
Fast bowler Wood, also making his comeback after nine months out with a knee problem, bowled a scheduled amount of 8 overs before departing the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring problem. He will undergo scanning on Friday.
Wood's injury drained the intensity out of the day, as the Lions were dismissed for three hundred eighty-two on a slow, low surface after an automatic toss at Lilac Hill.
Team Strategy
England aimed to bowl first to get overs in their legs before the initial Test match at Optus Stadium, beginning on November 21st.
In a potential indication towards their first-Test plans, the visiting team fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialist bowlers plus Stokes – and omitted off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in the development squad.
Batting Highlights
Jacob Bethell didn't strengthen his case for selection in the Test team, making just two runs, but Will Jacks enhanced his credentials to be called upon later in the tour by hitting eighty-four.
McKinney, Cox, teenage Thomas Rew and Potts also scored fifties.
Low-key Atmosphere
The team's plan to play a solitary practice match against the development squad has been questioned by some ex-players but the captain hit back by labeling the doubters "has-beens".
A low-pressure first day in front of a smattering of fans at the ground was certainly a world away from what the team will encounter at a sold-out Optus Stadium the following week.
Captain's Excellent Performance
Stokes was superb in the series against India in the home summer, only to push himself to breaking point. He was absent from the final Test with a shoulder tear.
The captain has not completed a full part in any of the team's past four tours because of different fitness issues and the tourists' hopes of regaining the Ashes are significantly reduced if he is absent from any of the five matches in the host country.
He has been practicing at full pace for 60 days and appeared in good condition on Wednesday, even if he could not believe 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 ahead of the out-of-sorts Bethell with his 84, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.
Even before the concern over Mark Wood, the five fast bowlers in the England XI for this game may not have been the bowling unit for the first Test.
Brydon Carse missed the first day because of illness, with his position going to Josh Tongue. Tongue had opening batsman Ben McKinney edging to the keeper just after lunch.
Though Stokes took the scalps, Jofra Archer impressed observers. He was lively with the fresh ball and again after lunch, when he caused problems for Jacks.
In the omission of Bashir and with Mark Wood leaving the field, Joe Root was required to bowl fourteen overs of his spin bowling. It was average performance, costing 117 at an economy of over eight.
Root at least took a wicket in the final session when Fisher somehow hit a full toss to mid-on before Archer bounced out Matthew Potts for 53 with the final ball of the day.
