Ben Stokes Takes 6 Wickets in England Ashes Preparation Match
Practice match, Lilac Hill (first day of three)
Development squad 382: Will Jacks 84, Ben McKinney 67; Stokes 6-52
England XI: yet to bat
Ben Stokes achieved six wickets in his return to play after July but the tourists faced an injury concern about Mark Wood on the first day of their Test preparation versus England Lions in Western Australia.
Captain's Outstanding Return
The England captain, making his comeback after almost four months out with a shoulder injury, bowled 16 overs across three spells for his six for fifty-two versus England Lions – each to catches taken on the leg side.
Mark Wood's Fitness Concern
Fast bowler Wood, also making his comeback after 9 months away with a knee problem, delivered a pre-planned number of eight overs before exiting the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring problem. He will receive scanning on Friday.
The Wood situation sucked the intensity out of the day, as the Lions were dismissed for three hundred eighty-two on a sluggish pitch after an uncontested toss at the venue.
Team Planning
The tourists wanted to field first to accumulate bowling time before the first Ashes Test at Optus Stadium, beginning on 21 November.
In a potential indication towards their first-Test plans, the tourists selected an all-pace attack – four specialist bowlers plus the captain – and omitted spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in the Lions.
Batting Performance Standouts
Bethell didn't strengthen his claim for selection in the Test side, making just two runs, but Jacks boosted his credentials to be selected later in the tour by swiping eighty-four.
McKinney, Cox, 17-year-old Rew and Potts also made half-centuries.
Low-key Environment
The team's plan to play a solitary warm-up game against the development squad has been criticized by some former players but Stokes responded by labeling the doubters "past 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 face at a sold-out Optus Stadium the following week.
Captain's Supreme Return
Stokes was excellent in the series against the Indian team in the home summer, only to strain himself to breaking point. He missed the last match with a torn shoulder.
The captain has not completed a full part in any of England's previous four tours because of various injuries and the tourists' hopes of regaining the Ashes are vastly diminished if he is absent from any of the five Tests in Australia.
He has been bowling at full pace for 60 days and looked in good condition on the match day, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his wickets were presented.
Will Jacks Pushes Case
Jacks is unlikely to play in the opening match – England look to have shown their intentions with the eleven selected here. Still, he may have moved himself ahead of the struggling Jacob Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.
Prior to the concern over Mark Wood, the five seamers in the team lineup for this game may not have been the attack for the first Test.
Carse was absent from the first day because of sickness, with his place going to Tongue. Josh Tongue had opening batsman Ben McKinney edging to the keeper just after the break.
Although Stokes took the scalps, Jofra Archer caught the eye. He was energetic with the new ball and once more after the interval, when he discomforted Jacks.
In the omission of Bashir and with Wood departing, Root was required to bowl 14 overs of his spin bowling. It was mediocre fare, costing 117 at an run rate of more than eight.
Joe Root at least claimed a scalp in the final session when Matt Fisher somehow hit a full toss to the fielder before Jofra Archer bounced out Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.
