Stokes Takes Six Scalps in English Ashes Warm-up
Tour game, Lilac Hill (first day of 3)
Development squad 382: Jacks 84, McKinney 67; Ben Stokes 6-52
England XI: awaiting batting
Ben Stokes achieved 6 scalps in his return to play after July but England faced an fitness worry regarding Mark Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up against the development squad in Western Australia.
Skipper's Outstanding Return
Stokes, making his comeback after nearly four months away with a shoulder injury, bowled 16 overs across three bowling spells for his six for fifty-two against England Lions – all to catches on the leg side.
Wood's Injury Worry
Pace bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after nine months out with a knee problem, delivered 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.
The Wood situation removed the energy out of the day, as the England Lions were bowled out for three hundred eighty-two on a slow track after an automatic toss at the venue.
Squad Planning
The tourists wanted to bowl first to accumulate bowling time before the first Ashes Test at Optus Stadium, beginning on 21 November.
In a potential indication towards their opening Test strategy, the visiting team selected an fast bowling lineup – four specialist bowlers plus Stokes – and omitted spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in the development squad.
Batting Highlights
Jacob Bethell didn't strengthen his claim for inclusion in the Test side, making just two runs, but Will Jacks enhanced his credentials to be selected later in the tour by hitting 84.
McKinney, Cox, 17-year-old Rew and Potts also scored fifties.
Relaxed Environment
England's decision to play a solitary warm-up game against the development squad has been criticized by some ex-players but Stokes hit back by labeling the doubters "former players".
A relaxed opening day in front of a small crowd of spectators at Lilac Hill was certainly a world away from what England will encounter at a sold-out main stadium the following week.
Stokes Excellent Return
The captain was excellent in the series against India in the home summer, only to strain himself to injury. He missed the last match with a torn shoulder.
The captain has not completed a full part in any of England's past four tours because of different fitness issues and the team's hopes of regaining the Ashes are vastly diminished if he is absent from any of the five matches in Australia.
He has been bowling at full pace for 60 days and appeared in fine shape on the match day, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his dismissals were presented.
Jacks Strengthens Case
Will Jacks is not expected to play in the first Test – the team look to have revealed their intentions with the eleven selected here. Nevertheless, he may have moved himself ahead of the out-of-sorts Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at almost a run a ball.
Even before the doubt over Mark Wood, the five seamers in the England XI for this match may not have been the bowling unit for the initial match.
Brydon Carse missed the first day because of illness, with his place going to Josh Tongue. Josh Tongue had Lions opener McKinney edging to the keeper just after the break.
Though Stokes took the scalps, Archer impressed observers. He was lively with the new ball and again after the interval, when he caused problems for Will Jacks.
In the omission of Shoaib Bashir and with Mark Wood departing, Joe Root was asked to deliver 14 overs of his spin bowling. It was average performance, costing 117 at an economy of more than eight.
Joe Root at least claimed a scalp in the closing stages when Fisher somehow hit a full delivery to mid-on before Archer dismissed with a bouncer Potts for fifty-three with the final ball of the day.
