Ben Stokes Takes 6 Scalps in England Ashes Warm-up
Tour game, Perth venue (day one of 3)
Development squad 382: Jacks 84, McKinney 67; Stokes 6-52
England XI: still to bat
Ben Stokes delivered six wickets in his initial appearance after July but England faced an injury concern about fast bowler Wood on the opening day of their Test preparation versus the development squad in Perth.
Captain's Outstanding Return
The England captain, returning after nearly four months away with a shoulder problem, bowled 16 overs across three bowling spells for his 6-52 versus England Lions – each to catches taken on the on-side.
Mark Wood's Fitness Worry
Fast bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after nine months away with a knee injury, bowled a pre-planned number of eight overs before departing the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring issue. He will have a scan on Friday.
The Wood situation sucked the energy out of the day, as the Lions were dismissed for three hundred eighty-two on a slow, low surface after an uncontested toss at Lilac Hill.
Squad Planning
The tourists wanted to field first to accumulate bowling time before the first Ashes Test at Optus Stadium, starting on November 21st.
In a possible hint towards their first-Test plans, the tourists selected an fast bowling lineup – four specialist bowlers plus Stokes – and omitted off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in the development squad.
Batting Performance Highlights
Jacob Bethell didn't strengthen his case for inclusion in the Test side, making just two runs, but Jacks enhanced his claim to be called upon later in the tour by scoring 84.
Ben McKinney, Jordan Cox, teenage Thomas Rew and Potts also scored half-centuries.
Relaxed Environment
The team's plan to play a single practice match against the development squad has been questioned by some former players but the captain responded by labeling the critics "has-beens".
A low-pressure opening day in front of a small crowd of spectators at the ground was certainly a world away from what England will face at a packed main stadium next week.
Captain's Excellent Return
Stokes was excellent in the series against India in the home summer, only to strain himself to breaking point. He was absent from the last match with a shoulder tear.
The captain has not managed a full part in any of the team's previous four tours because of different fitness issues and the tourists' chances of winning back the Ashes are vastly diminished if he is absent from any of the five matches in the host country.
He has been practicing at maximum speed for 60 days and looked in good condition on Wednesday, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his wickets were presented.
Jacks Strengthens Claim
Will Jacks is unlikely to play in the first Test – the team look to have shown their hand with the eleven selected here. Nevertheless, 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 bowling unit for the initial match.
Brydon Carse was absent from the first day because of illness, with his position going to Tongue. Josh Tongue had Lions opener Ben McKinney caught behind just after the break.
Although Stokes took the scalps, Archer caught the eye. He was energetic with the new ball and again after the interval, when he discomforted Will Jacks.
In the omission of Bashir and with Wood departing, Root was required to bowl fourteen overs of his off-spin. It was mediocre fare, conceding 117 runs at an economy of over eight.
Root at least claimed a wicket in the closing stages when Fisher unexpectedly hit a full delivery to the fielder before Archer bounced out Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.
