Ben Stokes Secures Six Scalps in English Ashes Warm-up
Tour game, Lilac Hill (first day of three)
England Lions 382: Jacks 84, McKinney 67; Ben Stokes 6-52
England XI: yet to bat
The England captain achieved 6 scalps in his return to play since July but England encountered an injury concern involving Mark Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up against the development squad in Perth.
Skipper's Impressive Comeback
The England captain, making his comeback after nearly four months out with a shoulder problem, delivered sixteen overs across three bowling spells for his six for fifty-two versus England Lions – each to catches on the leg side.
Wood's Injury Concern
Fast bowler Mark Wood, also making his comeback after 9 months out with a knee injury, bowled a pre-planned number of 8 overs before exiting the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring problem. He will undergo scanning on Friday.
The Wood situation sucked the energy out of the day, as the England Lions were dismissed for 382 on a sluggish pitch after an uncontested toss at Lilac Hill.
Squad Planning
England aimed to field first to get overs in their legs before the first Ashes Test at the main venue, starting on November 21st.
In a possible hint towards their opening Test strategy, the tourists fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialists plus Stokes – and omitted spin bowler Bashir in the Lions.
Batting Performance Highlights
Jacob Bethell failed to press his case for selection in the Test team, making only two, but Jacks enhanced his claim to be selected during the series by scoring eighty-four.
McKinney, Jordan Cox, teenage Rew and Potts also scored fifties.
Relaxed Atmosphere
England's decision to play a solitary practice match against the development squad has been criticized by some former players but Stokes responded by calling the critics "past players".
A relaxed opening day in front of a small crowd of fans at the ground was certainly a different experience from what England will face at a sold-out main stadium the following week.
Stokes Supreme Return
The captain was superb in the series against India in the domestic season, only to push himself to breaking point. He missed the final Test with a torn shoulder.
The captain has not completed a complete participation in any of the team's previous four tours because of different fitness issues and the team's hopes of winning back the Ashes are vastly diminished if he misses any of the five matches in the host country.
He has been bowling at full pace for two months and appeared in fine shape on Wednesday, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his dismissals were gifted.
Jacks Pushes Claim
Will Jacks is unlikely to play in the first Test – England look to have revealed their hand with the XI selected here. Nevertheless, he may have nudged himself ahead of the out-of-sorts Jacob Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at almost a run a ball.
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 was absent from the opening day because of illness, with his position going to Tongue. Tongue had opening batsman McKinney caught behind just after the break.
Though Stokes took the scalps, Archer caught the eye. He was energetic with the new ball and once more after the interval, when he discomforted Will Jacks.
In the absence of Shoaib Bashir and with Mark Wood departing, Root was asked to deliver fourteen overs of his spin bowling. It was average performance, costing 117 runs at an run rate of more than eight.
Joe Root at least claimed a wicket in the closing stages when Matt Fisher somehow struck a full delivery to mid-on before Jofra Archer dismissed with a bouncer Matthew Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.
