Stokes Takes Six Scalps in England Test Series Preparation Match
Practice match, Lilac Hill (day one of 3)
Development squad 382: Jacks 84, Ben McKinney 67; Stokes 6-52
National team: awaiting batting
The England captain produced 6 scalps in his initial appearance after July but England faced an fitness worry regarding Mark Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up against the development squad in Perth.
Skipper's Impressive Return
The England captain, returning after almost four months away with a shoulder problem, bowled sixteen overs across three bowling spells for his 6-52 against England Lions – each to catches on the on-side.
Mark Wood's Injury Concern
Pace bowler Wood, himself returning after nine months away with a knee problem, delivered a scheduled amount of eight overs before departing the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring issue. He will have a scan on the following day.
The Wood situation removed the energy out of the day, as the Lions were dismissed for three hundred eighty-two on a slow track after an uncontested toss at the venue.
Team Strategy
The tourists wanted to field first to accumulate bowling time before the first Ashes Test at Optus Stadium, beginning on 21 November.
In a possible hint towards their opening Test strategy, the visiting team fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialist bowlers plus Stokes – and left spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in the development squad.
Batting Standouts
Jacob Bethell failed to press his claim for selection in the Test team, making just two runs, but Will Jacks boosted his claim to be selected later in the tour by scoring eighty-four.
Ben McKinney, Jordan Cox, teenage Thomas Rew and Potts also scored half-centuries.
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 Stokes responded by calling the doubters "former players".
A low-pressure opening day in front of a small crowd of fans at the ground was definitely a different experience from what the team will face at a sold-out Optus Stadium next week.
Captain's Excellent Return
The captain was excellent in the contest against India in the domestic season, only to strain himself to injury. He missed the last match with a shoulder tear.
The captain has not managed a full part in any of the team's previous four tours because of various injuries and the team's chances of winning back the series are vastly diminished if he misses any of the five matches in Australia.
He has been bowling at full pace for 60 days and appeared 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 Strengthens Case
Will Jacks is unlikely to feature in the opening match – England look to have revealed their hand with the eleven named here. Still, he may have nudged himself ahead of the struggling Jacob Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at almost a run a ball.
Prior to the doubt over Mark Wood, the five seamers in the team lineup for this game may not have been the attack for the first Test.
Brydon Carse missed the first day because of sickness, with his place going to Josh Tongue. Tongue had Lions opener McKinney edging to the keeper just after lunch.
Although Stokes took the scalps, Archer impressed observers. He was energetic with the new ball and again after the interval, when he caused problems for Jacks.
In the absence of Shoaib Bashir and with Mark Wood leaving the field, Joe Root was asked to deliver 14 overs of his off-spin. It was average performance, costing 117 at an run rate of more than eight.
Root at least took a wicket in the final session when Matt Fisher somehow hit a full toss to mid-on before Jofra Archer dismissed with a bouncer Potts for fifty-three with the final ball of the day.