Stokes Claims Six Wickets in England Ashes Preparation Match
Practice match, Perth venue (first day of three)
England Lions 382: Jacks 84, Ben McKinney 67; Ben Stokes 6-52
England XI: still to bat
The England captain delivered 6 scalps in his return to play after July but England faced an injury concern about Mark Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up against England Lions in Western Australia.
Skipper's Impressive Return
The England captain, returning after approximately four months out with a shoulder problem, delivered sixteen overs across three bowling spells for his six for fifty-two versus England Lions – each to catches taken on the leg side.
Wood's Fitness Concern
Pace bowler Wood, also making his comeback after nine months out with a knee problem, bowled 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, low surface after an uncontested toss at the venue.
Squad Planning
England wanted to bowl first to build bowling fitness before the first Ashes Test at Optus Stadium, beginning on November 21st.
In a possible hint towards their first-Test plans, the visiting team selected an fast bowling lineup – four specialist bowlers plus the captain – and left spin bowler Bashir in the Lions.
Batting Standouts
Bethell failed to press his case for selection in the Test side, making just two runs, but Will Jacks boosted his claim to be selected later in the tour by swiping eighty-four.
Ben McKinney, Jordan Cox, 17-year-old Rew and Matthew Potts also scored fifties.
Low-key Environment
The team's plan to play a single practice match against the development squad has been questioned by some former players but the captain hit back by calling the critics "has-beens".
A low-pressure opening day in front of a smattering of spectators at the ground was definitely a different experience from what England will encounter at a sold-out Optus Stadium next week.
Stokes Supreme Return
The captain was superb in the series against the Indian team in the home summer, only to strain himself to breaking point. He missed the final Test with a torn shoulder.
The captain has not completed a full part in any of England's past four series because of various injuries and the tourists' hopes of regaining the series are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five matches in the host country.
He has been bowling at maximum speed for 60 days and appeared in fine shape on the match day, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his wickets were gifted.
Jacks Pushes Case
Jacks is unlikely to feature in the first Test – England look to have shown their intentions with the eleven named here. Still, he may have moved himself in front of the struggling Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.
Even before the doubt over Mark Wood, the five seamers in the England XI for this match may not have been the attack for the first Test.
Carse was absent from the opening day because of illness, with his position going to Josh Tongue. Josh Tongue had Lions opener Ben McKinney edging to the keeper just after lunch.
Although Stokes took the wickets, Archer caught the eye. He was lively with the new ball and again after the interval, when he caused problems for Jacks.
In the absence of Bashir and with Wood leaving the field, Joe Root was required to deliver 14 overs of his off-spin. It was average performance, conceding 117 at an economy of more than eight.
Joe Root at least took a wicket in the final session when Fisher unexpectedly struck a full toss to the fielder before Jofra Archer bounced out Matthew Potts for 53 with the final ball of the day.