Stokes Claims 6 Scalps in England Test Series Preparation Match
Practice match, Perth venue (day one of 3)
England Lions 382: Jacks 84, Ben McKinney 67; Stokes 6-52
England XI: still to bat
The England captain delivered 6 scalps in his return to play since July but the tourists encountered an fitness worry involving fast bowler Wood on the opening day of their Test preparation versus England Lions in Western Australia.
Skipper's Outstanding Return
Stokes, making his comeback after nearly four months away with a shoulder problem, bowled sixteen overs across three bowling spells for his six for fifty-two against England Lions – each to catches taken on the leg side.
Wood's Injury Concern
Pace bowler Mark Wood, also making his comeback after nine months out with a knee problem, bowled a scheduled amount of 8 overs before exiting the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring problem. He will have a scan on Friday.
Wood's injury drained the intensity out of the day, as the Lions were dismissed for three hundred eighty-two on a sluggish pitch after an automatic toss at the venue.
Team Strategy
The tourists aimed to field first to build bowling fitness before the initial Test match at the main venue, beginning on November 21st.
In a possible hint towards their opening Test strategy, the visiting team fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialists plus the captain – and left off-spinner Bashir in the Lions.
Batting Standouts
Bethell didn't strengthen his case for selection in the Test team, making just two runs, but Will Jacks enhanced his claim to be selected later in the tour by hitting eighty-four.
McKinney, Cox, teenage Rew and Matthew Potts also scored fifties.
Relaxed Atmosphere
The team's plan to play a solitary warm-up game against the Lions has been criticized by some ex-players but the captain responded by calling the critics "has-beens".
A relaxed first day in front of a smattering of spectators at the ground was definitely a world away from what England will encounter at a sold-out main stadium next week.
Stokes Excellent Performance
The captain was excellent in the contest against India in the home summer, only to push himself to injury. He missed the final Test with a torn shoulder.
The skipper has not completed a full part in any of England's previous four series because of different fitness issues and the tourists' hopes of regaining the Ashes are vastly diminished if he misses any of the five Tests in the host country.
He has been practicing at full pace for 60 days and looked in good condition 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 revealed their hand with the XI named here. Nevertheless, he may have nudged himself in front of the out-of-sorts Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at almost a run a ball.
Prior to the concern over Mark Wood, the five fast bowlers in the team lineup for this game may not have been the bowling unit for the first Test.
Carse was absent from the opening day because of sickness, with his place going to Josh Tongue. Tongue had opening batsman McKinney caught behind just after the break.
Though the captain took the wickets, Jofra Archer impressed observers. He was energetic with the new ball and once more after lunch, when he caused problems for Will Jacks.
In the absence of Bashir and with Wood departing, Root was asked to bowl 14 overs of his spin bowling. It was mediocre fare, conceding 117 at an run rate of more than eight.
Joe Root at least claimed a wicket in the closing stages when Matt Fisher unexpectedly struck a full delivery to mid-on before Jofra Archer bounced out Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.