Ben Stokes Takes 6 Scalps in England Ashes Preparation Match
Practice match, Lilac Hill (day one of three)
England Lions 382: Jacks 84, McKinney 67; Stokes 6-52
England XI: still to bat
Ben Stokes achieved six wickets in his return to play after July but the tourists encountered an injury concern involving Mark Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up versus England Lions in Western Australia.
Skipper's Impressive Return
The England captain, making his comeback after nearly four months away with a shoulder problem, bowled sixteen overs across three bowling spells for his 6-52 versus England Lions – all to catches on the on-side.
Wood's Fitness Worry
Fast bowler Wood, also making his comeback after 9 months away with a knee injury, bowled a scheduled amount of 8 overs before leaving the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring problem. He will have a scan on Friday.
The Wood situation removed the intensity out of the day, as the Lions were dismissed for three hundred eighty-two on a slow, low surface after an uncontested toss at Lilac Hill.
Team Planning
The tourists wanted to bowl first to accumulate bowling time before the initial Test match at the main venue, beginning on November 21st.
In a potential indication towards their opening Test strategy, the visiting team fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialists plus Stokes – and omitted spin bowler Bashir in the development squad.
Batting Performance Highlights
Jacob Bethell didn't strengthen his claim for inclusion in the Test side, making only two, but Jacks boosted his credentials to be selected during the series by scoring 84.
Ben McKinney, Cox, 17-year-old Rew and Matthew Potts also scored half-centuries.
Relaxed Atmosphere
England's plan to play a solitary practice match against the development squad has been criticized by some former players but Stokes hit back by labeling the critics "former players".
A low-pressure first day in front of a smattering of fans at the ground was certainly a different experience from what the team will encounter at a packed main stadium next week.
Stokes Excellent Performance
Stokes was superb in the series 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 skipper has not completed a full part in any of the team's previous four tours because of various injuries and the team's hopes of winning back the Ashes are significantly reduced if he is absent from any of the five matches in Australia.
He has been bowling at full pace for two months and looked in good condition on the match day, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his wickets were presented.
Jacks Pushes Claim
Jacks is not expected to feature in the first Test – England look to have shown their intentions with the XI named here. Nevertheless, he may have nudged himself ahead of the out-of-sorts Jacob Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at almost a run a ball.
Even before the doubt over Mark Wood, the five seamers in the team lineup for this match may not have been the attack for the first Test.
Carse missed the first day because of sickness, with his position going to Josh Tongue. Josh Tongue had opening batsman Ben McKinney caught behind just after lunch.
Although the captain took the wickets, Jofra Archer impressed observers. He was energetic with the fresh ball and once more after the interval, when he discomforted Jacks.
In the omission of Shoaib Bashir and with Mark Wood departing, Root was asked 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 claimed a scalp in the closing stages when Matt Fisher somehow struck a full toss to mid-on before Archer bounced out Matthew Potts for fifty-three with the final ball of the day.
