Ben Stokes Claims Six Wickets in England Ashes Preparation Match
Tour game, Perth venue (first day of three)
England Lions 382: Jacks 84, McKinney 67; Stokes 6-52
England XI: still to bat
The England captain delivered 6 scalps in his return to play following July but the tourists encountered an injury concern about Mark Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up against England Lions in Perth.
Skipper's Impressive Return
Stokes, returning after approximately four months out with a shoulder injury, delivered 16 overs across three bowling spells for his six for fifty-two versus the Lions – each to catches taken on the leg side.
Mark Wood's Injury Concern
Pace bowler Wood, also making his comeback after nine months away with a knee problem, bowled a scheduled amount of eight overs before exiting the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring issue. He will undergo scanning on Friday.
The Wood situation removed the intensity out of the day, as the England Lions were bowled out for 382 on a slow track after an uncontested toss at Lilac Hill.
Squad Planning
The tourists aimed to field first to get overs in their legs before the first Ashes Test at Optus Stadium, starting on November 21st.
In a potential indication towards their first-Test plans, the tourists selected an fast bowling lineup – four specialist bowlers plus Stokes – and omitted off-spinner Bashir in the development squad.
Batting Highlights
Jacob Bethell didn't strengthen his claim for inclusion in the Test side, making just two runs, but Jacks enhanced his claim to be selected later in the tour by swiping eighty-four.
McKinney, Jordan Cox, 17-year-old Rew and Matthew Potts also scored half-centuries.
Low-key Environment
The team's plan to play a single warm-up game against the development squad has been questioned by some former players but Stokes responded by calling the doubters "past players".
A low-pressure first day in front of a small crowd of spectators at the ground was certainly a different experience from what England will face at a sold-out Optus Stadium the following week.
Stokes Supreme Performance
Stokes was excellent in the series against India in the home summer, only to push himself to injury. He missed the last match with a torn shoulder.
The skipper has not completed a complete participation in any of the team's past four series because of different fitness issues and the tourists' hopes 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 appeared in fine shape on the match day, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his wickets were presented.
Jacks Strengthens Case
Will Jacks is not expected to play in the first Test – England look to have shown their hand with the XI selected here. Still, he may have nudged himself in front of the out-of-sorts Jacob Bethell with his 84, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.
Prior to the doubt over Mark Wood, the five fast bowlers in the England XI for this game may not have been the attack for the initial match.
Brydon Carse was absent from the opening day because of sickness, with his position going to Tongue. Josh Tongue had opening batsman McKinney edging to the keeper just after the break.
Though Stokes took the wickets, Jofra Archer caught the eye. He was lively with the fresh ball and again after lunch, when he caused problems for Jacks.
In the absence of Bashir and with Mark Wood departing, Joe Root was required to bowl 14 overs of his spin bowling. It was mediocre fare, costing 117 runs at an run rate of more than eight.
Root at least claimed a scalp in the final session when Matt Fisher somehow struck a full toss to mid-on before Archer bounced out Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.