Stokes Takes Six Scalps in England Ashes Preparation Match
Practice game, Lilac Hill (day one of 3)
England Lions 382: Jacks 84, McKinney 67; Stokes 6-52
England XI: awaiting batting
Ben Stokes delivered six wickets in his first action following July but England encountered an fitness worry about fast bowler Wood on the opening day of their Test preparation against the development squad in Western Australia.
Captain's Impressive Return
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 against the Lions – all to catches taken on the on-side.
Wood's Fitness Worry
Pace bowler Wood, himself returning after 9 months out with a knee problem, delivered a scheduled amount of eight overs before exiting the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring issue. He will undergo scanning on Friday.
Wood's injury drained the energy out of the day, as the Lions were bowled out for 382 on a sluggish pitch after an uncontested toss at the venue.
Squad Planning
The tourists wanted to field first to get overs in their legs before the initial Test match at the main venue, starting on 21 November.
In a potential indication towards their first-Test plans, the visiting team selected an all-pace attack – four specialists plus the captain – and left off-spinner Bashir in the Lions.
Batting Performance Standouts
Bethell failed to press his case for selection in the Test side, making just two runs, but Will Jacks boosted his claim to be selected later in the tour by hitting eighty-four.
Ben McKinney, Cox, teenage Rew and Potts also scored fifties.
Relaxed Atmosphere
England's decision to play a solitary warm-up game against the Lions has been questioned by some former players but the captain responded by calling the critics "past players".
A relaxed first day in front of a smattering of fans 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 contest against the Indian team in the domestic season, only to push himself to injury. He was absent from the final Test with a torn shoulder.
The skipper has not managed a full part in any of England's previous four tours because of different fitness issues and the team's chances of winning back the series are vastly diminished if he is absent from any of the five matches in Australia.
He has been bowling at maximum speed for two months and appeared in fine shape on the match day, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his wickets were presented.
Will Jacks Strengthens Claim
Jacks is not expected to feature in the first Test – England look to have revealed their hand with the XI named here. Still, he may have moved himself in front of the struggling Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at almost a run a ball.
Even before the doubt over Wood, the five fast bowlers in the England XI for this match may not have been the bowling unit for the initial match.
Carse missed the first day because of sickness, with his position going to Tongue. Josh Tongue had Lions opener McKinney caught behind just after the break.
Though the captain took the scalps, Archer impressed observers. He was lively with the new ball and again after the interval, when he caused problems for Jacks.
In the omission of Shoaib Bashir and with Mark Wood leaving the field, Joe Root was asked to deliver fourteen overs of his spin bowling. It was average performance, conceding 117 runs at an run rate of over eight.
Root at least took a wicket in the final session when Fisher somehow hit a full delivery to the fielder before Archer dismissed with a bouncer Potts for fifty-three with the last delivery of the day.
