Ben Stokes Claims Six Wickets in English Test Series Preparation Match
Tour game, Perth venue (day one of three)
Development squad 382: Will Jacks 84, Ben McKinney 67; Ben Stokes 6-52
England XI: yet to bat
Ben Stokes produced 6 scalps in his first action after July but the tourists faced an fitness worry involving fast bowler Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up versus the development squad in Western Australia.
Captain's Impressive Return
The England captain, making his comeback after approximately four months out with a shoulder injury, bowled sixteen overs across three spells for his six for fifty-two versus England Lions – all to catches taken on the on-side.
Mark Wood's Fitness Worry
Fast bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after 9 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 problem. He will receive scanning on the following day.
The Wood situation removed the energy out of the day, as the England Lions were bowled out for three hundred eighty-two on a slow track after an automatic toss at Lilac Hill.
Squad Strategy
The tourists wanted to field first to get overs in their legs before the initial Test match at the main venue, beginning on 21 November.
In a potential indication towards their first-Test plans, the visiting team selected an fast bowling lineup – four specialists plus Stokes – and omitted spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in the Lions.
Batting Highlights
Bethell failed to press his claim for inclusion in the Test side, making only two, but Jacks boosted his credentials to be selected during the series by hitting eighty-four.
Ben McKinney, Cox, teenage Rew and Matthew Potts also scored fifties.
Relaxed Environment
England's plan to play a solitary warm-up game against the development squad has been criticized by some ex-players but Stokes responded by labeling the doubters "former players".
A low-pressure opening day in front of a smattering of spectators at the ground was certainly a different experience from what England will encounter at a sold-out Optus Stadium next week.
Stokes Supreme Performance
Stokes was excellent in the contest against the Indian team in the home summer, only to strain himself to injury. He missed the final Test with a torn shoulder.
The captain has not managed a complete participation in any of the team's previous four tours because of different fitness issues and the team's chances 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 full pace for 60 days and looked in fine shape on Wednesday, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his dismissals were gifted.
Will Jacks Pushes Claim
Jacks is unlikely to play in the opening match – England look to have shown their intentions with the XI selected here. Nevertheless, he may have moved himself in front of the struggling 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 game may not have been the attack for the initial match.
Brydon Carse was absent from the first day because of sickness, with his position going to Tongue. Josh Tongue had opening batsman Ben McKinney caught behind just after lunch.
Though Stokes took the wickets, Jofra Archer caught the eye. He was energetic with the new ball and once more after the interval, when he caused problems for Will Jacks.
In the absence of Shoaib Bashir and with Mark Wood departing, Root was required to deliver 14 overs of his off-spin. It was mediocre fare, conceding 117 at an economy of more than eight.
Joe Root at least took a scalp in the closing stages when Fisher somehow hit a full toss to the fielder before Jofra Archer dismissed with a bouncer Potts for fifty-three with the final ball of the day.
