Stokes Secures Six Wickets in England Ashes Preparation Match
Practice game, Perth venue (day one of 3)
England Lions 382: Jacks 84, Ben McKinney 67; Stokes 6-52
England XI: yet to bat
Ben Stokes achieved six wickets in his initial appearance since July but the tourists faced an fitness worry involving Mark Wood on the opening day of their Test preparation against England Lions in Perth.
Captain's Impressive Return
Stokes, returning after approximately four months out with a shoulder problem, bowled 16 overs across three bowling spells for his 6-52 versus England Lions – all to catches on the on-side.
Wood's Injury Worry
Pace bowler Wood, himself returning after 9 months away with a knee injury, bowled a scheduled amount of 8 overs before departing the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring issue. He will undergo scanning on the following day.
The Wood situation sucked the energy out of the day, as the England Lions were dismissed for 382 on a sluggish pitch after an automatic toss at the venue.
Team Strategy
England aimed to field first to build bowling fitness before the first Ashes Test at Optus Stadium, beginning on November 21st.
In a potential indication towards their opening Test strategy, the visiting team fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialist bowlers plus Stokes – and omitted off-spinner Bashir in the development squad.
Batting Highlights
Bethell failed to press his claim for inclusion in the Test team, making only two, but Will Jacks enhanced his claim to be selected during the series by hitting 84.
Ben McKinney, Cox, teenage Rew and Matthew Potts also made half-centuries.
Low-key Atmosphere
England's decision to play a solitary practice match against the Lions has been questioned by some ex-players but the captain hit back by labeling the critics "has-beens".
A low-pressure first day in front of a smattering of fans at the ground was certainly a different experience from what England will face at a packed Optus Stadium the following week.
Stokes Excellent Performance
Stokes was superb in the contest against India in the domestic season, only to strain himself to breaking point. He was absent from the last match with a torn shoulder.
The captain has not completed a complete participation in any of the team's past four series because of various injuries and the tourists' chances of winning back the series are vastly diminished if he misses any of the five matches in Australia.
He has been practicing at maximum speed for 60 days and looked in fine shape on Wednesday, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his wickets were presented.
Jacks Pushes Claim
Jacks is unlikely to play in the opening match – England look to have revealed their intentions with the eleven named here. Nevertheless, he may have moved himself ahead of the out-of-sorts Jacob Bethell with his 84, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.
Even before the doubt over Wood, the five seamers in the England XI for this match may not have been the attack for the first Test.
Brydon 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 lunch.
Although the captain took the wickets, Archer impressed observers. He was lively with the fresh ball and again after lunch, when he caused problems for Jacks.
In the omission of Bashir and with Wood leaving the field, Joe Root was required to deliver fourteen overs of his off-spin. It was mediocre fare, 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 delivery to mid-on before Jofra Archer bounced out Matthew Potts for fifty-three with the last delivery of the day.
