Ben Stokes Secures Six Scalps in English Test Series Preparation Match
Practice game, Lilac Hill (day one of 3)
England Lions 382: Jacks 84, McKinney 67; Stokes 6-52
England XI: still to bat
Ben Stokes achieved 6 scalps in his initial appearance after July but England faced an injury concern regarding Mark Wood on the first day of their Test preparation versus England Lions in Perth.
Captain's Outstanding Return
The England captain, making his comeback after almost four months out with a shoulder problem, bowled sixteen overs across three bowling spells for his 6-52 against England Lions – each to catches on the on-side.
Wood's Fitness Worry
Fast bowler Mark Wood, also making his comeback after nine months away with a knee injury, delivered a scheduled amount of eight overs before departing the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring issue. He will undergo scanning on the following day.
The Wood situation sucked the intensity out of the day, as the England Lions were bowled out for 382 on a slow track after an automatic toss at Lilac Hill.
Squad Strategy
The tourists wanted to bowl first to build bowling fitness before the initial Test match at the main venue, starting on November 21st.
In a potential indication towards their opening Test strategy, the visiting team selected an fast bowling lineup – four specialists plus the captain – and omitted off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in the development squad.
Batting Performance Highlights
Bethell failed to press his claim for inclusion in the Test side, making only two, but Will Jacks boosted his credentials to be selected later in the tour by swiping eighty-four.
McKinney, Cox, 17-year-old Thomas Rew and Potts also scored fifties.
Low-key Environment
The team's decision to play a solitary warm-up game against the development squad has been criticized by some former players but the captain hit back by calling the doubters "past players".
A relaxed opening day in front of a smattering of spectators at Lilac Hill was certainly a world away from what the team will encounter at a packed main stadium the following week.
Stokes Excellent Return
The captain was excellent in the contest against the Indian team in the domestic season, only to strain himself to breaking point. He was absent from the last match with a torn shoulder.
The captain has not completed a complete participation in any of England's past four series because of various injuries and the tourists' chances of winning back the series are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five matches 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 comprehend the way in which some of his dismissals were presented.
Jacks Strengthens Claim
Will Jacks is not expected to feature in the opening match – England look to have revealed their hand with the eleven selected here. Still, he may have nudged himself in front of the struggling Bethell with his 84, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.
Prior to the doubt over Wood, the five seamers in the England XI for this game may not have been the attack for the first Test.
Brydon Carse was absent from the opening day because of sickness, with his place going to Josh Tongue. Tongue had Lions opener Ben McKinney caught behind just after lunch.
Though Stokes took the wickets, Jofra Archer caught the eye. He was energetic with the fresh ball and once more after lunch, when he caused problems for Jacks.
In the absence of Bashir and with Wood leaving the field, Root was required to bowl fourteen overs of his off-spin. It was average performance, costing 117 at an run rate of over eight.
Root at least took a wicket in the closing stages when Matt Fisher unexpectedly hit a full delivery to mid-on before Jofra Archer dismissed with a bouncer Matthew Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.