Ben Stokes Claims Six Wickets in English Test Series Preparation Match
Tour match, Lilac Hill (day one of 3)
England Lions 382: Will Jacks 84, McKinney 67; Stokes 6-52
England XI: yet to bat
Ben Stokes produced six wickets in his initial appearance after July but the tourists faced an injury concern regarding Mark Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up versus England Lions in Western Australia.
Captain's Outstanding Return
Stokes, returning after approximately four months out with a shoulder problem, bowled sixteen overs across three spells for his 6-52 versus the Lions – all to catches on the on-side.
Mark Wood's Injury Concern
Pace bowler Wood, also making his comeback after nine months out with a knee injury, bowled a scheduled amount of 8 overs before leaving the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring problem. He will have a scan on Friday.
Wood's injury removed the intensity out of the day, as the Lions were dismissed for 382 on a sluggish pitch after an automatic toss at Lilac Hill.
Team Strategy
The tourists aimed to field first to build bowling fitness before the initial Test match at the main venue, beginning on 21 November.
In a possible hint towards their first-Test plans, the visiting team selected an fast bowling lineup – four specialist bowlers plus the captain – and omitted off-spinner Bashir in the Lions.
Batting Standouts
Bethell failed to press his case for inclusion in the Test team, making just two runs, but Jacks boosted his credentials to be called upon during the series by swiping 84.
Ben McKinney, Cox, 17-year-old Rew and Matthew Potts also scored half-centuries.
Relaxed Environment
England's decision to play a solitary warm-up game against the Lions has been criticized by some former players but the captain hit back by calling the doubters "has-beens".
A relaxed first day in front of a smattering of spectators at the ground was definitely a different experience from what the team will encounter at a packed main stadium the following week.
Stokes Excellent Performance
Stokes was superb in the series against India in the domestic season, only to push himself to injury. He was absent from the final Test with a torn shoulder.
The captain has not completed a complete participation in any of England's past four tours because of various injuries and the team's chances 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 full pace for 60 days and looked in fine shape on Wednesday, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his wickets were presented.
Jacks Pushes Case
Jacks is unlikely to play in the first Test – England look to have revealed their hand with the XI named here. Still, he may have moved himself ahead of the out-of-sorts Jacob Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at almost a run a ball.
Even before the concern over Mark Wood, the five fast bowlers in the England XI for this match may not have been the attack for the first Test.
Carse missed the opening day because of sickness, with his place going to Josh Tongue. Josh Tongue had Lions opener Ben McKinney edging to the keeper just after the break.
Though the captain took the scalps, Jofra Archer caught the eye. He was energetic with the new ball and once more after the interval, when he discomforted Jacks.
In the absence of Bashir and with Wood leaving the field, Root was required to bowl 14 overs of his off-spin. It was average performance, costing 117 runs at an run rate of over eight.
Joe Root at least claimed a scalp in the closing stages when Matt Fisher somehow struck a full toss to the fielder before Archer bounced out Matthew Potts for 53 with the final ball of the day.
