Ben Stokes Takes Six Wickets in England Test Series Warm-up
Tour match, Lilac Hill (first day of 3)
Development squad 382: Will Jacks 84, Ben McKinney 67; Stokes 6-52
National team: awaiting batting
The England captain achieved 6 scalps in his return to play since July but England faced an fitness worry involving fast bowler Wood on the first day of their Test preparation against the development squad in Perth.
Skipper's Outstanding Return
The England captain, making his comeback after almost four months away with a shoulder injury, bowled sixteen overs across three bowling spells for his 6-52 versus the Lions – each to catches on the leg side.
Wood's Injury Concern
Fast bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after 9 months away with a knee problem, delivered a scheduled amount of 8 overs before departing the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring problem. He will undergo scanning on the following day.
Wood's injury removed the intensity out of the day, as the Lions were dismissed for 382 on a slow track after an automatic toss at the venue.
Squad Strategy
The tourists wanted to field first to build bowling fitness before the first Ashes Test at the main venue, beginning on 21 November.
In a potential indication towards their first-Test plans, the tourists fielded an all-pace attack – four specialist bowlers plus the captain – and omitted off-spinner Bashir in the Lions.
Batting Standouts
Jacob Bethell didn't strengthen his case for inclusion in the Test side, making only two, but Will Jacks boosted his claim to be called upon later in the tour by hitting eighty-four.
Ben McKinney, Cox, 17-year-old Thomas Rew and Matthew Potts also scored half-centuries.
Low-key Environment
The team's plan to play a single warm-up game against the Lions has been criticized by some former players but Stokes responded by labeling the critics "past players".
A low-pressure first day in front of a small crowd of spectators at Lilac Hill was certainly a different experience from what the team will face at a sold-out main stadium next week.
Stokes Supreme Return
The captain was excellent in the contest against the Indian team in the domestic season, only to strain himself to injury. He missed the last match with a torn shoulder.
The captain has not managed a complete participation in any of England's past four tours because of various injuries and the team's hopes of winning back the series are significantly reduced if he is absent from any of the five Tests in the host country.
He has been practicing at maximum speed for two months and appeared in fine shape on Wednesday, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his dismissals were gifted.
Will Jacks Strengthens Claim
Jacks is not expected to feature in the first Test – England look to have revealed their intentions with the XI selected here. Still, he may have moved himself in front of the out-of-sorts Bethell with his 84, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.
Prior to the doubt over Wood, the five fast bowlers 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 illness, with his place going to Tongue. Tongue had Lions opener McKinney caught behind just after lunch.
Although the captain took the wickets, Jofra 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 Shoaib Bashir and with Mark Wood departing, Joe Root was asked to deliver fourteen overs of his off-spin. It was average performance, costing 117 runs at an economy of over eight.
Joe Root at least claimed a scalp in the closing stages when Matt Fisher unexpectedly struck a full delivery to mid-on before Archer bounced out Matthew Potts for fifty-three with the final ball of the day.