Ben Stokes Secures 6 Wickets in English Test Series Preparation Match
Practice game, Perth venue (day one of 3)
England Lions 382: Will Jacks 84, McKinney 67; Stokes 6-52
England XI: awaiting batting
The England captain achieved six wickets in his initial appearance after July but the tourists faced an fitness worry about fast bowler Wood on the first day of their Test preparation against England Lions in Western Australia.
Skipper's Impressive Comeback
Stokes, making his comeback after almost four months out with a shoulder injury, delivered 16 overs across three bowling spells for his 6-52 versus England Lions – each to catches on the on-side.
Wood's Injury Concern
Pace bowler Mark Wood, also making his comeback after nine months away with a knee problem, delivered a pre-planned number of eight overs before exiting the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring issue. He will undergo scanning on Friday.
The Wood situation drained the intensity out of the day, as the Lions were dismissed for three hundred eighty-two on a slow track after an uncontested toss at Lilac Hill.
Team Strategy
The tourists aimed to field first to accumulate bowling time before the initial Test match at Optus Stadium, starting on 21 November.
In a possible hint towards their opening Test strategy, the visiting team selected an all-pace attack – four specialist bowlers plus Stokes – and left off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in the development squad.
Batting Standouts
Jacob Bethell didn't strengthen his case for inclusion in the Test team, making only two, but Will Jacks enhanced his claim to be called upon during the series by scoring 84.
McKinney, Cox, 17-year-old Thomas Rew and Matthew Potts also scored fifties.
Relaxed Environment
England's decision to play a solitary warm-up game against the development squad has been criticized by some former players but the captain responded by labeling the doubters "former players".
A low-pressure first day in front of a smattering of fans at Lilac Hill was certainly a world away from what the team will encounter at a sold-out Optus Stadium the following week.
Captain's Excellent Return
Stokes was excellent in the contest against the Indian team in the domestic season, only to strain himself to breaking point. He was absent from the last match with a shoulder tear.
The skipper has not managed a complete participation in any of the team's past four tours because of various injuries and the tourists' chances of regaining the series are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five Tests in Australia.
He has been practicing at maximum speed for two months and looked in fine shape on Wednesday, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his wickets were gifted.
Jacks Strengthens Case
Will Jacks is not expected to feature in the opening match – the team look to have shown their hand with the XI named here. Still, he may have moved himself in front of the struggling Jacob Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.
Even before the doubt over Mark Wood, the five seamers in the England XI for this match may not have been the bowling unit for the first Test.
Carse was absent from the first day because of illness, with his position going to Josh Tongue. Josh Tongue had Lions opener Ben McKinney edging to the keeper just after the break.
Though the captain took the scalps, Archer caught the eye. He was lively with the fresh ball and again after lunch, when he discomforted Will Jacks.
In the absence of Shoaib Bashir and with Mark Wood leaving the field, Joe Root was required to deliver 14 overs of his spin bowling. It was average performance, conceding 117 runs at an run rate of over eight.
Joe Root at least took a wicket in the final session when Matt Fisher somehow hit a full delivery to the fielder before Archer dismissed with a bouncer Matthew Potts for fifty-three with the final ball of the day.
