Ben Stokes Takes 6 Wickets in England Test Series Preparation Match
Tour game, Perth venue (first day of three)
England Lions 382: Jacks 84, McKinney 67; Stokes 6-52
National team: yet to bat
The England captain delivered 6 scalps in his return to play after July but England faced an injury concern regarding Mark Wood on the opening day of their Test preparation against England Lions in Perth.
Captain's Impressive Comeback
The England captain, making his comeback after almost four months away with a shoulder problem, delivered sixteen overs across three bowling spells for his 6-52 versus the Lions – all to catches taken on the on-side.
Wood's Injury Worry
Pace bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after 9 months out with a knee injury, bowled a scheduled amount of 8 overs before exiting the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring issue. He will receive scanning on Friday.
The Wood situation sucked the energy out of the day, as the Lions were dismissed for 382 on a sluggish pitch after an automatic toss at the venue.
Team Planning
The tourists aimed to bowl first to build bowling fitness before the first Ashes Test at the main venue, starting on 21 November.
In a potential indication towards their first-Test plans, the tourists fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialists plus Stokes – and omitted off-spinner Bashir in the Lions.
Batting Performance Highlights
Jacob Bethell failed to press his case for selection in the Test side, making just two runs, but Jacks enhanced his credentials to be selected during the series by scoring eighty-four.
McKinney, Cox, teenage Thomas Rew and Potts also scored half-centuries.
Low-key Atmosphere
The team's decision to play a solitary practice match against the Lions has been questioned by some former players but Stokes responded by labeling the doubters "past players".
A low-pressure first day in front of a small crowd of spectators at the ground was certainly a world away from what England will face at a packed Optus Stadium next week.
Captain's Excellent Return
The captain was excellent in the contest against India in the home summer, only to push himself to injury. He missed the last match with a shoulder tear.
The skipper has not completed a full part in any of the team's previous four tours because of different fitness issues and the tourists' hopes of winning back the Ashes are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five Tests in the host country.
He has been practicing at maximum speed for two months and looked in fine shape on the match day, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his wickets were presented.
Jacks Strengthens Claim
Jacks is unlikely to play in the opening match – England look to have shown their hand with the XI selected here. Nevertheless, he may have nudged himself in front of the struggling Bethell with his 84, which came at almost a run a ball.
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 initial match.
Carse missed the opening day because of sickness, with his place going to Josh 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 fresh ball and again after the interval, when he caused problems for Will Jacks.
In the absence of Bashir and with Mark Wood leaving the field, Root was required to bowl 14 overs of his spin bowling. It was mediocre fare, conceding 117 runs at an run rate of more than eight.
Joe Root at least took a wicket in the closing stages when Matt Fisher somehow hit a full delivery to the fielder before Jofra Archer dismissed with a bouncer Potts for fifty-three with the final ball of the day.
