Stokes Takes Six Scalps in English Ashes Preparation Match
Tour game, Lilac Hill (day one of 3)
Development squad 382: Jacks 84, McKinney 67; Stokes 6-52
England XI: awaiting batting
The England captain achieved 6 scalps in his initial appearance since July but the tourists faced an injury concern about Mark Wood on the first day of their Test preparation against England Lions in Perth.
Skipper's Outstanding Return
Stokes, returning after almost four months out with a shoulder problem, bowled 16 overs across three spells for his six for fifty-two versus the Lions – all to catches on the leg side.
Mark Wood's Fitness Concern
Fast bowler Wood, himself returning after nine months out with a knee injury, bowled a scheduled amount of eight overs before leaving the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring issue. He will undergo scanning on Friday.
Wood's injury sucked the intensity out of the day, as the England Lions were dismissed for 382 on a sluggish pitch after an uncontested toss at the venue.
Team Planning
England aimed to bowl first to accumulate bowling time before the first Ashes Test at Optus Stadium, beginning on November 21st.
In a possible hint towards their opening Test strategy, the visiting team selected an all-pace attack – four specialists plus Stokes – and omitted spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in the development squad.
Batting Standouts
Jacob Bethell failed to press his case for selection in the Test team, making just two runs, but Will Jacks enhanced his claim to be selected during the series by scoring eighty-four.
Ben McKinney, Jordan Cox, teenage Thomas Rew and Potts also made half-centuries.
Low-key Environment
England's decision to play a solitary practice match against the development squad has been questioned by some former players but the captain responded by labeling the critics "past players".
A low-pressure opening day in front of a smattering of fans at Lilac Hill was definitely a different experience from what the team will encounter at a sold-out main stadium the following week.
Captain's Excellent Return
Stokes was superb in the series against the Indian team in the domestic season, only to push himself to injury. He missed the last match with a shoulder tear.
The captain has not managed a complete participation in any of the team's past four tours because of various injuries and the team's hopes of regaining the Ashes are vastly diminished if he is absent from any of the five matches in Australia.
He has been practicing at full pace for two months and looked in good condition on the match day, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his dismissals were presented.
Will Jacks Pushes Case
Jacks is unlikely to feature in the opening match – England look to have revealed their intentions with the XI selected here. Nevertheless, he may have nudged himself ahead of the struggling Jacob Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at almost a run a ball.
Even before the concern over Mark Wood, the five seamers in the England XI for this match 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. Tongue had opening batsman Ben McKinney edging to the keeper just after the break.
Though the captain took the scalps, Archer caught the eye. He was lively with the new ball and again after the interval, when he discomforted Will Jacks.
In the omission of Bashir and with Wood leaving the field, Root was asked to deliver 14 overs of his off-spin. It was average performance, conceding 117 at an run rate of over eight.
Joe Root at least claimed a scalp in the closing stages when Fisher unexpectedly struck a full delivery to mid-on before Archer bounced out Potts for fifty-three with the final ball of the day.
