Stokes Takes 6 Wickets in English Ashes Preparation Match
Tour match, Perth venue (day one of three)
Development squad 382: Will Jacks 84, McKinney 67; Stokes 6-52
National team: still to bat
The England captain delivered six wickets in his return to play after July but the tourists faced an injury concern regarding Mark Wood on the first day of their Test preparation against the development squad in Western Australia.
Captain's Impressive Return
The England captain, making his comeback after nearly four months away with a shoulder injury, delivered 16 overs across three spells for his 6-52 versus the Lions – each to catches taken on the on-side.
Mark Wood's Injury Concern
Pace bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after nine months out with a knee problem, bowled a pre-planned number of 8 overs before leaving the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring issue. He will receive scanning on Friday.
Wood's injury removed the intensity out of the day, as the England Lions were dismissed for three hundred eighty-two on a slow, low surface after an uncontested toss at Lilac Hill.
Squad Strategy
England wanted to field first to accumulate bowling time before the initial Test match at the main venue, starting on November 21st.
In a potential indication towards their first-Test plans, the visiting team fielded an all-pace attack – four specialist bowlers plus the captain – and left off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in the development squad.
Batting Highlights
Jacob Bethell failed to press his case for inclusion in the Test side, making just two runs, but Will Jacks enhanced his claim to be called upon later in the tour by hitting eighty-four.
McKinney, Cox, 17-year-old Rew and Matthew Potts also made fifties.
Low-key Atmosphere
England's decision to play a solitary practice match against the development squad has been criticized by some former players but the captain responded by calling the critics "has-beens".
A low-pressure opening day in front of a small crowd of fans at the ground was definitely a different experience from what England will encounter at a sold-out main stadium next week.
Stokes Excellent Performance
Stokes was excellent in the series against India in the home summer, only to push himself to breaking point. He missed the last match with a shoulder tear.
The skipper has not completed a full part in any of the team's past four series because of different fitness issues and the team's chances of winning back the series are significantly reduced if he is absent from any of the five matches in the host country.
He has been bowling at maximum speed for 60 days and looked in fine shape on the match day, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his dismissals were gifted.
Will Jacks Strengthens Case
Will Jacks is unlikely to feature in the opening match – the team look to have revealed their intentions with the eleven selected here. Nevertheless, he may have moved himself ahead of the struggling Jacob Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.
Even before the concern over Wood, the five fast bowlers in the England XI for this game may not have been the bowling unit for the initial match.
Carse missed the opening day because of sickness, with his place going to Josh Tongue. Tongue had Lions opener McKinney edging to the keeper just after lunch.
Although Stokes took the wickets, Archer impressed observers. He was lively with the fresh ball and again after lunch, when he discomforted Jacks.
In the absence of Shoaib Bashir and with Wood leaving the field, Root was required to deliver 14 overs of his off-spin. It was average performance, conceding 117 runs at an run rate of over eight.
Joe Root at least claimed a wicket in the final session when Fisher unexpectedly hit a full toss to the fielder before Archer bounced out Matthew Potts for fifty-three with the final ball of the day.
