Ben Stokes Takes 6 Wickets in England Ashes Warm-up
Practice match, Lilac Hill (first day of 3)
Development squad 382: Will Jacks 84, Ben McKinney 67; Ben Stokes 6-52
England XI: yet to bat
Ben Stokes achieved six wickets in his return to play since July but England encountered an injury concern involving Mark Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up against England Lions in Perth.
Skipper's Impressive Return
Stokes, making his comeback after approximately four months away with a shoulder injury, bowled sixteen overs across three spells for his six for fifty-two versus the Lions – each to catches taken on the on-side.
Wood's Fitness Worry
Pace bowler Mark Wood, also making his comeback after 9 months out with a knee injury, bowled a scheduled amount of 8 overs before exiting the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring issue. He will have a scan on Friday.
The Wood situation drained the intensity 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 the venue.
Team Strategy
The tourists wanted to bowl first to get overs in their legs before the initial Test match at Optus Stadium, starting on 21 November.
In a potential indication towards their opening Test strategy, the tourists fielded an all-pace attack – four specialist bowlers plus Stokes – and omitted off-spinner Bashir in the development squad.
Batting Performance Highlights
Jacob Bethell failed to press his case for inclusion in the Test side, making only two, but Will Jacks boosted his credentials to be selected during the series by hitting eighty-four.
Ben McKinney, Jordan Cox, 17-year-old Rew and Matthew Potts also made half-centuries.
Low-key Atmosphere
The team's decision to play a single warm-up game against the development squad has been criticized by some former players but Stokes responded by labeling the doubters "past players".
A relaxed first day in front of a smattering of fans at the ground was definitely a world away from what the team will encounter at a sold-out Optus Stadium next week.
Captain's Supreme Return
Stokes was excellent in the contest against the Indian team in the home summer, only to strain himself to injury. He was absent from the last match with a torn shoulder.
The captain has not completed a complete participation in any of England's previous four tours because of various injuries and the tourists' chances of regaining the series are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five matches 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 presented.
Will Jacks Pushes Case
Jacks is unlikely to feature in the opening match – the team look to have shown their hand with the XI selected here. Nevertheless, he may have moved himself ahead of the struggling Jacob Bethell with his 84, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.
Even before the doubt over Wood, the five seamers in the England XI for this game may not have been the bowling unit for the first Test.
Carse missed the first day because of sickness, with his position going to Josh Tongue. Josh Tongue had Lions opener Ben McKinney caught behind just after the break.
Although 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 Jacks.
In the omission of Bashir and with Wood leaving the field, Root was asked to bowl fourteen overs of his off-spin. It was mediocre fare, conceding 117 at an run rate of over eight.
Joe Root at least took a wicket in the closing stages when Fisher unexpectedly hit a full toss to the fielder before Jofra Archer dismissed with a bouncer Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.
