Ben Stokes Takes 6 Scalps in England Test Series Warm-up
Tour game, Perth venue (first day of 3)
Development squad 382: Jacks 84, McKinney 67; Ben Stokes 6-52
National team: yet to bat
Ben Stokes delivered six wickets in his return to play after July but the tourists faced an injury concern regarding fast bowler Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up against the development squad in Western Australia.
Skipper's Outstanding Return
Stokes, returning after nearly four months away with a shoulder problem, delivered sixteen overs across three bowling spells for his six for fifty-two versus the Lions – each to catches on the on-side.
Wood's Injury Worry
Fast bowler Mark Wood, also making his comeback after nine months away with a knee injury, delivered a scheduled amount of eight overs before leaving the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring problem. He will have a scan on Friday.
The Wood situation drained the intensity out of the day, as the Lions were bowled out for three hundred eighty-two on a sluggish pitch after an automatic toss at the venue.
Team Strategy
England aimed to bowl first to get overs in their legs before the initial Test match at the main venue, starting on November 21st.
In a potential indication towards their opening Test strategy, the visiting team selected an all-pace attack – four specialists plus the captain – and left off-spinner Bashir in the Lions.
Batting Performance Standouts
Jacob Bethell failed to press his claim for inclusion in the Test side, making just two runs, but Jacks enhanced his claim to be called upon during the series by scoring eighty-four.
McKinney, Cox, teenage Rew and Matthew Potts also made half-centuries.
Relaxed Atmosphere
The team's decision to play a solitary practice match against the development squad has been criticized by some former players but the captain responded by calling the critics "past players".
A relaxed opening day in front of a small crowd of fans at the ground was definitely a different experience from what England will encounter at a packed main stadium next week.
Captain's Supreme Performance
The captain was superb in the contest against India in the domestic season, only to strain himself to breaking point. He missed the last match with a torn shoulder.
The captain has not managed a complete participation in any of England's past four tours because of different fitness issues and the team's chances of winning back the series are vastly diminished if he is absent from any of the five Tests in the host country.
He has been practicing at maximum speed for two months and appeared in good condition on Wednesday, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his dismissals were gifted.
Jacks Strengthens Claim
Jacks is not expected to play in the first Test – England look to have revealed their intentions with the XI named here. Nevertheless, he may have moved himself in front of the out-of-sorts Jacob Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.
Even before the doubt over Wood, the five seamers in the England XI for this match may not have been the bowling unit for the first Test.
Brydon Carse missed the opening day because of illness, with his position going to Tongue. Josh Tongue had opening batsman McKinney edging to the keeper just after the break.
Though the captain took the scalps, Jofra Archer caught the eye. He was energetic with the fresh ball and once more after lunch, when he caused problems for Jacks.
In the absence of Bashir and with Mark Wood departing, Joe Root was required to deliver fourteen overs of his spin bowling. It was mediocre fare, conceding 117 at an economy of over eight.
Joe Root at least claimed a scalp in the final session when Matt Fisher somehow hit a full delivery to mid-on before Archer dismissed with a bouncer Matthew Potts for 53 with the final ball of the day.
