Ben Stokes Secures 6 Scalps in English Test Series Warm-up
Tour game, Perth venue (first day of three)
England Lions 382: Will Jacks 84, McKinney 67; Ben Stokes 6-52
National team: still to bat
The England captain delivered six wickets in his initial appearance after July but the tourists faced an injury concern involving fast bowler Wood on the opening day of their Test preparation versus the development squad in Western Australia.
Captain's Outstanding Comeback
Stokes, returning after almost four months away with a shoulder problem, bowled 16 overs across three bowling spells for his six for fifty-two against the Lions – all to catches on the on-side.
Mark Wood's Fitness Worry
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 departing the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring problem. He will have a scan on Friday.
The Wood situation drained the energy out of the day, as the Lions were bowled out for three hundred eighty-two on a slow track after an automatic toss at the venue.
Team Planning
The tourists wanted to bowl first to build bowling fitness before the initial Test match at Optus Stadium, starting on 21 November.
In a potential indication towards their opening Test strategy, the visiting team selected an all-pace attack – four specialist bowlers plus the captain – and left off-spinner Bashir in the Lions.
Batting Performance Standouts
Jacob Bethell failed to press his case for selection in the Test team, making just two runs, but Jacks enhanced his claim to be called upon during the series by scoring eighty-four.
McKinney, Jordan Cox, teenage Rew and Matthew Potts also scored fifties.
Relaxed Atmosphere
The team's plan to play a solitary warm-up game against the development squad has been criticized by some former players but the captain responded by calling the critics "past players".
A low-pressure first day in front of a smattering of spectators at Lilac Hill was certainly a world away from what England will encounter at a sold-out Optus Stadium the following week.
Stokes Excellent Return
The captain was excellent in the contest against the Indian team in the home summer, only to push himself to injury. He missed the last match with a torn shoulder.
The captain has not managed a full part in any of the team's past four tours because of different fitness issues and the team's hopes of winning back the series are vastly diminished if he misses any of the five Tests in the host country.
He has been bowling 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 dismissals were gifted.
Will Jacks Strengthens Claim
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 struggling Jacob Bethell with his 84, which came at almost a run a ball.
Prior to the concern over Mark Wood, the five fast bowlers in the England XI for this game may not have been the bowling unit for the initial match.
Carse was absent from the opening day because of illness, with his place going to Josh Tongue. Josh Tongue had Lions opener Ben McKinney caught behind just after the break.
Although Stokes took the scalps, Jofra Archer caught the eye. He was lively with the fresh ball and once more after the interval, when he caused problems for Jacks.
In the absence of Shoaib Bashir and with Mark Wood leaving the field, Root was required to deliver fourteen overs of his off-spin. It was average performance, costing 117 at an run rate of over eight.
Root at least took a scalp in the closing stages when Fisher unexpectedly struck a full delivery to mid-on before Archer dismissed with a bouncer Matthew Potts for fifty-three with the final ball of the day.
