Ben Stokes Secures Six Wickets in England Test Series Warm-up
Practice match, Perth venue (day one of three)
Development squad 382: Will Jacks 84, McKinney 67; Ben Stokes 6-52
National team: awaiting batting
Ben Stokes delivered 6 scalps in his initial appearance following July but England encountered an injury concern involving Mark Wood on the first day of their Test preparation versus England Lions in Perth.
Skipper's Impressive Comeback
The England captain, returning after nearly four months away with a shoulder injury, bowled 16 overs across three bowling spells for his 6-52 against England Lions – each to catches taken on the leg side.
Mark Wood's Fitness Concern
Pace bowler Wood, himself returning after 9 months away with a knee problem, bowled a pre-planned number of eight overs before departing the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring problem. He will undergo scanning on the following day.
The Wood situation sucked 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.
Squad Strategy
England aimed to field first to build bowling fitness before the first Ashes Test at Optus Stadium, starting on November 21st.
In a possible hint towards their opening Test strategy, the tourists fielded an all-pace attack – four specialists plus Stokes – and left spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in the development squad.
Batting Performance Standouts
Bethell didn't strengthen his claim for inclusion in the Test team, making just two runs, but Will Jacks boosted his credentials to be called upon during the series by swiping eighty-four.
McKinney, Cox, teenage Thomas Rew and Matthew Potts also scored half-centuries.
Relaxed Atmosphere
The team's plan to play a solitary practice match against the development squad has been criticized by some former players but the captain hit back by calling the critics "former players".
A low-pressure opening day in front of a smattering of spectators at Lilac Hill was definitely a different experience from what England will encounter at a sold-out Optus Stadium next week.
Stokes Supreme Performance
The captain was excellent in the contest against the Indian team in the domestic season, only to strain himself to breaking point. He missed the last match with a torn shoulder.
The skipper has not managed a full part in any of the team's past four series because of different fitness issues and the team's chances of winning back the series are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five matches in the host country.
He has been practicing at full pace for 60 days and looked in good condition on Wednesday, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his dismissals were gifted.
Will Jacks Pushes Claim
Will Jacks is not expected to feature in the first Test – England look to have shown their hand with the eleven named here. Nevertheless, he may have moved himself in front of the struggling Bethell with his 84, which came at almost a run a ball.
Prior to the doubt over Mark Wood, the five seamers in the team lineup for this game may not have been the bowling unit for the first Test.
Carse was absent from the first day because of sickness, with his place going to Josh Tongue. Tongue had opening batsman McKinney edging to the keeper just after lunch.
Though the captain took the scalps, Jofra Archer caught the eye. He was energetic with the new ball and once more after the interval, when he caused problems for Will Jacks.
In the absence of Bashir and with Wood departing, Root was required to bowl 14 overs of his spin bowling. It was average performance, conceding 117 runs at an economy of over eight.
Root at least claimed a scalp in the final session when Fisher somehow hit a full delivery to the fielder before Archer dismissed with a bouncer Potts for fifty-three with the final ball of the day.