Stokes Claims 6 Scalps in English Ashes Preparation Match
Practice match, Perth venue (day one of 3)
England Lions 382: Jacks 84, Ben McKinney 67; Stokes 6-52
National team: still to bat
The England captain achieved six wickets in his initial appearance after July but England faced an fitness worry about Mark Wood on the opening day of their Test preparation against England Lions in Western Australia.
Skipper's Outstanding Return
The England captain, making his comeback after almost four months away with a shoulder injury, delivered sixteen overs across three spells for his 6-52 against England Lions – each to catches on the on-side.
Mark Wood's Injury Worry
Fast bowler Wood, himself returning after nine months out with a knee problem, delivered a scheduled amount of eight overs before exiting 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 England Lions were bowled out for 382 on a sluggish pitch after an uncontested 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 21 November.
In a possible hint towards their opening Test strategy, the visiting team selected an fast bowling lineup – four specialist bowlers plus Stokes – and left off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in the development squad.
Batting Highlights
Jacob Bethell didn't strengthen his case for selection in the Test side, making only two, but Jacks boosted his claim to be selected later in the tour by swiping eighty-four.
McKinney, Cox, 17-year-old Thomas Rew and Potts also scored half-centuries.
Relaxed Atmosphere
England's plan to play a solitary practice match against the Lions has been questioned by some ex-players but Stokes responded by labeling the doubters "former players".
A relaxed opening day in front of a small crowd of spectators at Lilac Hill was definitely a different experience from what England will face at a packed Optus Stadium next week.
Stokes Supreme Performance
Stokes was superb 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 skipper has not managed a full part in any of England's past four tours because of different fitness issues and the team's chances of regaining the series are significantly reduced if he is absent from any of the five matches in Australia.
He has been practicing at maximum speed for two months and looked in fine shape on Wednesday, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his wickets were gifted.
Will Jacks Pushes Claim
Jacks is not expected to feature in the first Test – the team look to have revealed their intentions with the XI selected here. Still, he may have moved himself in front of the out-of-sorts Jacob Bethell with his 84, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.
Even before the concern over Mark Wood, the five seamers in the England XI for this match may not have been the attack for the initial match.
Brydon Carse was absent from the first day because of illness, with his place going to Tongue. Tongue had Lions opener Ben McKinney caught behind just after lunch.
Though Stokes took the scalps, Archer caught the eye. He was lively with the new ball and once more after the interval, when he discomforted Jacks.
In the omission of Shoaib Bashir and with Wood leaving the field, Joe Root was asked to deliver 14 overs of his spin bowling. It was mediocre fare, conceding 117 runs at an economy of more than eight.
Joe Root at least took a scalp in the closing stages when Fisher unexpectedly hit a full toss to the fielder before Archer dismissed with a bouncer Potts for fifty-three with the last delivery of the day.
