Stokes Takes Six Wickets in England Test Series Warm-up
Tour match, Perth venue (first day of 3)
Development squad 382: Will Jacks 84, McKinney 67; Stokes 6-52
England XI: still to bat
Ben Stokes delivered six wickets in his return to play after July but the tourists encountered an injury concern regarding Mark Wood on the opening day of their Test preparation versus England Lions in Western Australia.
Captain's Impressive Comeback
Stokes, making his comeback after approximately four months out with a shoulder problem, delivered sixteen overs across three bowling spells for his 6-52 versus the Lions – all to catches on the on-side.
Wood's Fitness Worry
Fast bowler Wood, himself returning 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 issue. He will undergo scanning on Friday.
The Wood situation sucked the intensity out of the day, as the England Lions were dismissed for three hundred eighty-two on a sluggish pitch after an automatic toss at the venue.
Squad Strategy
The tourists wanted to field first to get overs in their legs before the initial Test match at Optus Stadium, beginning on 21 November.
In a potential indication towards their opening Test strategy, the visiting team fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialist bowlers plus Stokes – and left spin bowler Bashir in the Lions.
Batting Highlights
Bethell didn't strengthen his claim for inclusion in the Test side, making only two, but Will Jacks boosted his credentials to be called upon during the series by scoring eighty-four.
McKinney, Cox, 17-year-old Rew and Potts also scored half-centuries.
Relaxed Atmosphere
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 labeling the doubters "past players".
A relaxed opening day in front of a smattering of fans at Lilac Hill was certainly a different experience from what England will face at a packed Optus Stadium next week.
Stokes Excellent Performance
Stokes was superb in the series against the Indian team in the home summer, only to push himself to breaking point. He missed the last match with a torn shoulder.
The captain has not completed a complete participation in any of the team's past four tours because of various injuries and the tourists' chances of regaining the series are vastly diminished if he misses any of the five Tests in Australia.
He has been bowling at maximum speed for 60 days and looked in fine shape on the match day, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his wickets were presented.
Will Jacks Strengthens Case
Jacks is unlikely to feature in the opening match – England look to have revealed their hand with the XI selected here. Still, he may have nudged himself ahead of the struggling Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at almost a run a ball.
Even before the doubt over Wood, the five fast bowlers in the England XI for this game may not have been the bowling unit for the first Test.
Carse missed the opening day because of illness, with his place going to Josh Tongue. Josh Tongue had opening batsman McKinney edging to the keeper just after the break.
Although Stokes took the wickets, Archer caught the eye. He was energetic with the new ball and again after the interval, 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 spin bowling. It was average performance, costing 117 at an run rate of over eight.
Root at least claimed a scalp in the closing stages when Matt Fisher somehow struck a full toss to the fielder before Jofra Archer bounced out Matthew Potts for fifty-three with the final ball of the day.
