Ben Stokes Takes 6 Wickets in England Ashes Warm-up
Practice match, Lilac Hill (first day of three)
England Lions 382: Jacks 84, McKinney 67; Ben Stokes 6-52
England XI: still to bat
Ben Stokes produced six wickets in his initial appearance since July but the tourists faced an fitness worry involving fast bowler Wood on the opening day of their Test preparation against England Lions in Perth.
Skipper's Outstanding Return
Stokes, making his comeback after approximately four months away with a shoulder injury, bowled 16 overs across three bowling spells for his 6-52 against the Lions – all to catches on the leg side.
Mark Wood's Fitness Worry
Pace bowler Wood, also making his comeback after nine months out with a knee injury, delivered a scheduled amount of eight overs before exiting the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring problem. He will undergo scanning on the following day.
Wood's injury removed the intensity out of the day, as the England Lions were bowled out for three hundred eighty-two on a slow, low surface after an uncontested toss at Lilac Hill.
Team Planning
The tourists wanted to bowl first to build bowling fitness before the initial Test match at the main venue, beginning on November 21st.
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 Bashir in the development squad.
Batting Performance Standouts
Jacob Bethell failed to press his claim for selection in the Test side, making just two runs, but Will Jacks boosted his claim to be called upon during the series by swiping 84.
McKinney, Jordan Cox, teenage Thomas Rew and Potts also made half-centuries.
Low-key Environment
England's plan to play a solitary practice match against the Lions has been questioned by some ex-players but the captain responded by labeling the critics "has-beens".
A low-pressure opening day in front of a small crowd of spectators at Lilac Hill was definitely a different experience from what England will encounter at a sold-out main stadium next week.
Captain's Supreme Performance
The captain was excellent in the contest against the Indian team in the domestic season, only to push himself to breaking point. He was absent from the last match with a torn shoulder.
The skipper has not managed a complete participation in any of England's past four tours because of different fitness issues and the tourists' chances of winning back the Ashes are vastly diminished if he misses any of the five Tests in Australia.
He has been practicing at maximum speed for two months and appeared in fine shape on the match day, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his dismissals were gifted.
Jacks Strengthens Case
Jacks is not expected to feature in the opening match – the team look to have revealed their hand with the XI selected here. Nevertheless, he may have nudged himself in front of the out-of-sorts Jacob Bethell with his 84, 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 game may not have been the attack for the initial match.
Brydon Carse missed the first day because of sickness, with his place going to Tongue. Tongue had opening batsman 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 Jacks.
In the absence of Shoaib Bashir and with Mark Wood leaving the field, Root was required to deliver fourteen overs of his off-spin. It was average performance, conceding 117 runs at an economy of more than eight.
Root at least claimed a scalp in the closing stages when Matt Fisher unexpectedly hit a full toss to the fielder before Archer bounced out Matthew Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.
