Stokes Claims 6 Wickets in English Ashes Preparation Match
Practice game, Perth venue (day one of 3)
Development squad 382: Will Jacks 84, McKinney 67; Ben Stokes 6-52
National team: awaiting batting
Ben Stokes delivered 6 scalps in his return to play following July but the tourists encountered an injury concern involving fast bowler Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up against England Lions in Western Australia.
Skipper's Outstanding Return
Stokes, making his comeback after almost four months away with a shoulder problem, delivered 16 overs across three spells for his six for fifty-two against the Lions – each to catches on the leg side.
Mark Wood's Injury Concern
Fast bowler Wood, also making his comeback after 9 months away with a knee injury, bowled a pre-planned number of eight overs before exiting the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring issue. He will undergo scanning on Friday.
Wood's injury drained the energy out of the day, as the Lions were dismissed for three hundred eighty-two on a sluggish pitch after an automatic toss at the venue.
Team Planning
The tourists aimed to bowl first to build bowling fitness before the initial Test match at the main venue, beginning on 21 November.
In a possible hint towards their opening Test strategy, the visiting team fielded an all-pace attack – four specialists plus the captain – and left off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in the development squad.
Batting Standouts
Jacob Bethell didn't strengthen his claim for selection in the Test side, making only two, but Jacks enhanced his credentials to be selected during the series by scoring 84.
Ben McKinney, Cox, teenage Thomas Rew and Potts also made fifties.
Relaxed Environment
The team's plan to play a single practice match against the development squad has been questioned by some ex-players but Stokes responded by labeling the doubters "has-beens".
A relaxed first day in front of a small crowd of spectators at the ground was definitely a different experience from what England will face at a packed Optus Stadium the following week.
Stokes Excellent Performance
Stokes was excellent in the series against the Indian team in the domestic season, only to strain himself to injury. He was absent from the last match with a shoulder tear.
The captain has not completed a full part in any of England's previous four series because of various injuries and the team's chances of regaining the Ashes are vastly diminished 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 fine shape on Wednesday, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his dismissals were presented.
Will Jacks Pushes Case
Jacks is not expected to play in the first Test – England look to have shown their intentions with the eleven named here. Still, he may have moved himself ahead of the out-of-sorts Jacob Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.
Even before the concern over Wood, the five seamers in the team lineup for this game may not have been the bowling unit for the initial match.
Brydon Carse was absent from the opening day because of sickness, with his position going to Josh Tongue. Josh Tongue had Lions opener Ben McKinney edging to the keeper just after lunch.
Although Stokes took the scalps, Archer impressed observers. He was energetic with the fresh ball and again after lunch, when he caused problems for Will Jacks.
In the omission of Shoaib Bashir and with Mark Wood leaving the field, Joe Root was required to bowl fourteen overs of his off-spin. It was average performance, conceding 117 at an run rate of more than eight.
Root at least claimed a wicket in the closing stages when Fisher unexpectedly hit a full toss to mid-on before Jofra Archer dismissed with a bouncer Matthew Potts for fifty-three with the last delivery of the day.
