Ben Stokes Takes Six Wickets in England Ashes Preparation Match
Tour match, Perth venue (day one of three)
Development squad 382: Jacks 84, Ben McKinney 67; Stokes 6-52
England XI: still to bat
Ben Stokes achieved 6 scalps in his first action following July but England faced an injury concern regarding Mark Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up against the development squad in Western Australia.
Skipper's Impressive Comeback
Stokes, making his comeback after almost four months away with a shoulder injury, delivered sixteen overs across three bowling spells for his 6-52 versus England Lions – each to catches taken on the on-side.
Mark Wood's Injury Concern
Pace bowler Wood, himself returning after nine months out with a knee problem, delivered a scheduled amount of eight overs before exiting the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring issue. He will have a scan on the following day.
The Wood situation drained 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
England aimed to bowl first to get overs in their legs before the first Ashes Test at the main venue, starting on November 21st.
In a possible hint towards their first-Test plans, the visiting team selected 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 team, making just two runs, but Jacks enhanced his claim to be selected later in the tour by swiping eighty-four.
Ben McKinney, Cox, teenage Thomas Rew and Potts also made fifties.
Relaxed Atmosphere
The team's decision to play a single practice match against the development squad has been criticized by some former players but the captain hit back by calling the critics "past players".
A relaxed first day in front of a smattering of spectators at Lilac Hill was certainly a world away from what the team will encounter at a sold-out main stadium the following week.
Captain's Excellent Performance
Stokes was excellent in the contest against India 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 full part in any of the team's previous four tours because of different fitness issues and the team's hopes of regaining the series are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five Tests in Australia.
He has been practicing at maximum speed for 60 days and looked in good condition on Wednesday, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his wickets were gifted.
Will Jacks Strengthens Claim
Will Jacks is not expected to play in the first Test – England look to have shown their hand with the eleven named here. Nevertheless, he may have nudged himself ahead of the out-of-sorts Bethell with his 84, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.
Prior to the concern over Mark Wood, the five fast bowlers in the England XI for this match may not have been the bowling unit for the first Test.
Brydon Carse missed the first day because of illness, with his position going to Tongue. Tongue had opening batsman Ben McKinney edging to the keeper just after the break.
Though the captain took the scalps, Archer caught the eye. He was lively with the new ball and once more after lunch, when he caused problems for Jacks.
In the omission of Bashir and with Wood departing, Joe Root was required to bowl fourteen overs of his spin bowling. It was average performance, costing 117 runs at an run rate of more than eight.
Joe Root at least claimed a wicket in the final session when Matt Fisher unexpectedly struck a full delivery to mid-on before Jofra Archer bounced out Matthew Potts for fifty-three with the last delivery of the day.
