Stokes Claims Six Scalps in England Ashes Preparation Match
Practice game, Perth venue (day one of 3)
Development squad 382: Will Jacks 84, McKinney 67; Stokes 6-52
England XI: still to bat
The England captain delivered 6 scalps in his first action after July but the tourists encountered an fitness worry about Mark Wood on the opening day of their Test preparation against the development squad in Perth.
Captain's Impressive Comeback
The England captain, making his comeback after nearly four months away with a shoulder injury, bowled 16 overs across three spells for his 6-52 versus the Lions – all to catches on the on-side.
Wood's Injury Concern
Pace bowler Wood, also making his comeback after 9 months away with a knee problem, bowled a scheduled amount of 8 overs before leaving the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring issue. He will have a scan on Friday.
Wood's injury drained the energy out of the day, as the England Lions were bowled out for three hundred eighty-two on a slow track after an uncontested toss at the venue.
Squad Planning
The tourists wanted to bowl first to accumulate bowling time before the first Ashes Test at the main venue, beginning on November 21st.
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 Shoaib Bashir in the development squad.
Batting Highlights
Bethell failed to press his case for inclusion in the Test team, making just two runs, but Jacks boosted his claim to be selected later in the tour by scoring 84.
McKinney, Cox, 17-year-old Thomas Rew and Matthew Potts also scored half-centuries.
Low-key Atmosphere
England's decision to play a single warm-up game against the development squad has been questioned by some ex-players but Stokes responded by calling the doubters "former players".
A relaxed opening day in front of a smattering of fans at the ground was definitely a different experience from what the team will face at a sold-out Optus Stadium next week.
Stokes Supreme Return
Stokes was superb in the contest against India in the home summer, only to push himself to injury. He was absent from the last match with a torn shoulder.
The skipper has not completed a complete participation in any of the team's previous four series because of various injuries and the tourists' hopes of regaining the Ashes are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five Tests in Australia.
He has been practicing at full pace for two months and looked in fine shape on Wednesday, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his wickets were presented.
Jacks Pushes Claim
Will Jacks is unlikely to feature in the first Test – the team look to have revealed their intentions with the XI named here. Nevertheless, he may have moved himself in front of the out-of-sorts Bethell with his 84, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.
Even before the concern over Mark Wood, the five seamers in the England XI for this game may not have been the bowling unit for the first Test.
Brydon Carse was absent from the opening day because of illness, with his position going to Tongue. Tongue had Lions opener McKinney edging to the keeper just after lunch.
Though Stokes took the scalps, Archer impressed observers. He was lively with the fresh ball and once more after the interval, when he caused problems for Jacks.
In the omission of Bashir and with Wood departing, Joe Root was asked to bowl fourteen overs of his off-spin. It was average performance, conceding 117 runs at an run rate of over eight.
Root at least took a scalp in the closing stages when Fisher unexpectedly hit a full toss to mid-on before Archer dismissed with a bouncer Matthew Potts for 53 with the final ball of the day.
