Ben Stokes Takes 6 Scalps in England 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
National team: yet to bat
Ben Stokes produced six wickets in his initial appearance since July but England faced an fitness worry involving fast bowler Wood on the first day of their Test preparation versus the development squad in Perth.
Skipper's Outstanding Comeback
The England captain, returning after nearly four months out with a shoulder problem, delivered 16 overs across three spells for his 6-52 against the Lions – all to catches on the on-side.
Mark Wood's Fitness Concern
Fast bowler Mark Wood, also making his comeback after nine months away with a knee problem, bowled a pre-planned number of 8 overs before exiting the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring issue. He will receive scanning on Friday.
Wood's injury sucked the energy out of the day, as the England Lions were bowled out for 382 on a slow track after an automatic toss at the venue.
Team Planning
England wanted to bowl first to get overs in their legs before the initial Test match at Optus Stadium, starting on 21 November.
In a possible hint towards their first-Test plans, the visiting team fielded an all-pace attack – four specialists plus the captain – and left spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in the development squad.
Batting Standouts
Bethell didn't strengthen his claim for selection in the Test team, making only two, but Will Jacks boosted his claim to be selected during the series by hitting eighty-four.
Ben McKinney, Jordan Cox, teenage Thomas Rew and Matthew Potts also made half-centuries.
Low-key Atmosphere
England's decision to play a single practice match against the Lions has been criticized by some ex-players but Stokes hit back by calling the critics "past 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 face at a packed Optus Stadium the following week.
Captain's Excellent Performance
Stokes was superb in the series against the Indian team in the home summer, only to push himself to breaking point. He was absent from the last match with a shoulder tear.
The captain has not managed a complete participation in any of England's previous four series because of various injuries and the team's chances of winning back the Ashes are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five matches in Australia.
He has been bowling at full pace for 60 days and looked in good condition on the match day, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his wickets were gifted.
Jacks Pushes Case
Will Jacks is not expected to play in the opening match – England look to have revealed their intentions with the XI named here. Nevertheless, he may have moved himself ahead of the out-of-sorts Jacob Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at almost a run a ball.
Even before the concern over Wood, the five seamers in the team lineup for this match may not have been the bowling unit for the initial match.
Brydon Carse was absent from the first day because of sickness, with his position going to Josh Tongue. Tongue had Lions opener McKinney caught behind just after the break.
Though Stokes took the scalps, Jofra Archer impressed observers. He was energetic 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, Joe Root was asked to bowl fourteen overs of his off-spin. It was mediocre fare, costing 117 at an run rate of over eight.
Root at least took a wicket in the closing stages when Matt Fisher unexpectedly struck a full toss to mid-on before Archer bounced out Matthew Potts for fifty-three with the final ball of the day.
