Stokes Claims Six Scalps in England Ashes Warm-up
Practice game, Lilac Hill (day one of three)
Development squad 382: Jacks 84, McKinney 67; Stokes 6-52
National team: yet to bat
Ben Stokes delivered six wickets in his return to play after July but England faced an fitness worry about fast bowler Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up against England Lions in Western Australia.
Captain's Outstanding Return
Stokes, making his comeback after nearly four months out with a shoulder injury, delivered sixteen overs across three spells for his six for fifty-two against the Lions – each to catches on the on-side.
Mark Wood's Injury Concern
Fast bowler Wood, himself returning after nine months out with a knee injury, bowled a scheduled amount of 8 overs before exiting the field in the afternoon 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 382 on a slow, low surface after an automatic toss at Lilac Hill.
Squad Strategy
England aimed to bowl first to build bowling fitness before the initial Test match at the main venue, starting on 21 November.
In a potential indication towards their opening Test strategy, the tourists fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialist bowlers plus Stokes – and omitted off-spinner Bashir in the Lions.
Batting Performance Highlights
Jacob Bethell didn't strengthen his claim for inclusion in the Test team, making only two, but Jacks boosted his credentials to be called upon later in the tour by hitting 84.
Ben McKinney, Cox, teenage Thomas Rew and Matthew Potts also made fifties.
Low-key Environment
The team's decision to play a solitary warm-up game against the development squad has been questioned by some ex-players but the captain hit back by calling the critics "past players".
A low-pressure opening day in front of a small crowd of spectators at Lilac Hill was certainly a world away from what the team will face at a packed main stadium next week.
Stokes Excellent Performance
The captain was superb in the series against the Indian team in the domestic season, only to strain himself to injury. He was absent from the final Test with a shoulder tear.
The skipper has not completed a full part in any of the team's past four tours because of various injuries and the team's chances of regaining the series are significantly reduced if he is absent from any of the five matches in Australia.
He has been practicing at maximum speed for 60 days and appeared in good condition on the match day, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his dismissals were gifted.
Will Jacks Pushes Claim
Jacks is not expected to feature in the opening match – England look to have revealed their hand with the eleven named here. Nevertheless, he may have moved himself in front of the out-of-sorts Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.
Even before the concern over Mark Wood, the five fast bowlers in the team lineup for this match may not have been the attack for the initial match.
Carse missed the opening day because of sickness, with his position going to Tongue. Tongue had opening batsman Ben McKinney caught behind just after the break.
Although the captain took the scalps, Archer impressed observers. He was lively with the fresh ball and once more after the interval, when he discomforted Will Jacks.
In the omission of Shoaib Bashir and with Wood leaving the field, Root was required to bowl 14 overs of his spin bowling. It was average performance, conceding 117 at an economy of more than eight.
Joe Root at least took a scalp in the final session when Fisher somehow struck a full toss to the fielder before Jofra Archer dismissed with a bouncer Matthew Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.
