Stokes Claims 6 Scalps in England Ashes Warm-up
Practice match, Perth venue (first day of three)
England Lions 382: Will Jacks 84, Ben McKinney 67; Stokes 6-52
National team: still to bat
Ben Stokes produced six wickets in his first action since July but England encountered an injury concern about fast bowler Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up versus the development squad in Western Australia.
Skipper's Outstanding Return
The England captain, returning after almost four months out with a shoulder problem, bowled 16 overs across three bowling spells for his 6-52 versus the Lions – all to catches taken on the on-side.
Mark Wood's Fitness Concern
Fast bowler Wood, himself returning after 9 months out with a knee problem, delivered a pre-planned number of eight overs before departing the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring issue. He will receive scanning on the following day.
The Wood situation removed the intensity out of the day, as the Lions were dismissed for three hundred eighty-two on a slow track after an automatic toss at the venue.
Team Planning
The tourists aimed to field first to accumulate bowling time before the first Ashes Test at Optus Stadium, starting on November 21st.
In a potential indication towards their first-Test plans, the tourists fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialist bowlers plus Stokes – and left off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in the Lions.
Batting Performance Highlights
Jacob Bethell failed to press his claim for selection in the Test team, making just two runs, but Jacks enhanced his claim to be selected later in the tour by hitting 84.
Ben McKinney, Cox, teenage Rew and Matthew Potts also made fifties.
Relaxed Atmosphere
The team's plan to play a single warm-up game against the development squad has been questioned by some ex-players but the captain responded by calling the critics "former players".
A low-pressure opening day in front of a smattering of fans at the ground was certainly a different experience from what the team will encounter at a sold-out Optus Stadium the following week.
Stokes Supreme Return
The captain was superb in the contest against India in the domestic season, only to push himself to breaking point. He missed the final Test with a shoulder tear.
The captain has not completed a complete participation in any of the team's previous four series because of various injuries and the team's chances of regaining the Ashes are vastly diminished if he is absent from any of the five matches in Australia.
He has been bowling at maximum speed for two months and appeared in good condition on Wednesday, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his dismissals were presented.
Jacks Pushes Claim
Will Jacks is not expected to feature in the first Test – England look to have shown their intentions with the eleven selected here. Still, he may have moved himself ahead of the struggling Jacob Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at almost a run a ball.
Prior to the doubt over Wood, the five seamers in the team lineup for this game may not have been the bowling unit for the initial match.
Brydon Carse missed the first 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 the captain took the scalps, Jofra Archer caught the eye. He was energetic with the fresh ball and again after lunch, when he caused problems for Will Jacks.
In the absence of Shoaib Bashir and with Wood leaving the field, Root was asked to deliver fourteen overs of his spin bowling. It was mediocre fare, costing 117 runs at an economy of over eight.
Root at least claimed a scalp in the final session when Matt Fisher somehow hit a full toss to mid-on before Jofra Archer bounced out Potts for 53 with the final ball of the day.
