Stokes Takes 6 Scalps in English Test Series Warm-up
Tour match, Perth venue (first day of 3)
England Lions 382: Jacks 84, McKinney 67; Stokes 6-52
England XI: still to bat
The England captain achieved 6 scalps in his initial appearance after July but the tourists encountered an injury concern about Mark Wood on the opening day of their Test preparation against England Lions in Perth.
Skipper's Impressive Comeback
Stokes, returning after nearly four months away with a shoulder problem, delivered sixteen overs across three bowling spells for his six for fifty-two versus England Lions – all to catches taken on the leg side.
Mark Wood's Injury Concern
Pace bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after 9 months away with a knee injury, delivered 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 the following day.
Wood's injury drained the energy out of the day, as the England Lions were bowled out for 382 on a slow track after an uncontested toss at Lilac Hill.
Team Strategy
The tourists wanted to field first to build bowling fitness before the initial Test match at the main venue, beginning on 21 November.
In a potential indication towards their opening Test strategy, the visiting team selected an fast bowling lineup – four specialists plus the captain – and omitted spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in the Lions.
Batting Standouts
Jacob Bethell failed to press his case for selection in the Test team, making just two runs, but Jacks boosted his claim to be called upon later in the tour by hitting eighty-four.
McKinney, Jordan Cox, 17-year-old Thomas Rew and Potts also made half-centuries.
Low-key Atmosphere
The team's plan to play a single warm-up game against the development squad has been questioned by some ex-players but the captain hit back by labeling the doubters "has-beens".
A low-pressure opening day in front of a smattering of spectators at Lilac Hill was certainly a world away from what the team will face at a packed main stadium the following week.
Stokes Supreme Performance
Stokes was excellent in the series against India in the domestic season, only to push himself to breaking point. He was absent from the last match with a shoulder tear.
The skipper has not completed a full part in any of England's previous four tours because of different fitness issues and the team's chances of regaining the series are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five Tests in Australia.
He has been bowling at maximum speed for two months and looked in good condition on Wednesday, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his dismissals were gifted.
Jacks Pushes Claim
Jacks is not expected to feature in the first Test – England look to have revealed their hand with the eleven selected here. Still, he may have nudged himself ahead of the out-of-sorts Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at almost a run a ball.
Even before the concern over Mark Wood, the five seamers in the England XI for this match may not have been the bowling unit for the first Test.
Brydon Carse missed the opening day because of sickness, with his position going to Josh Tongue. Josh Tongue had Lions opener Ben McKinney edging to the keeper just after the break.
Though Stokes took the scalps, Archer caught the eye. He was energetic with the new ball and once more after the interval, when he discomforted Will Jacks.
In the omission of Shoaib Bashir and with Wood departing, Root was required to bowl 14 overs of his spin bowling. It was mediocre fare, costing 117 runs at an economy of more than eight.
Root at least took a wicket in the final session when Fisher somehow hit a full toss to mid-on before Jofra Archer dismissed with a bouncer Potts for 53 with the final ball of the day.
