Stokes Secures Six Scalps in English Test Series Warm-up
Practice match, Lilac Hill (first day of three)
Development squad 382: Will Jacks 84, Ben McKinney 67; Stokes 6-52
England XI: still to bat
The England captain delivered six wickets in his initial appearance following July but the tourists encountered an fitness worry regarding Mark Wood on the first day of their Test preparation against the development squad in Perth.
Skipper's Outstanding Return
Stokes, returning after almost four months away with a shoulder injury, bowled sixteen overs across three spells for his six for fifty-two against England Lions – all to catches on the leg side.
Mark Wood's Fitness Concern
Fast bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after nine months away with a knee injury, bowled 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 drained the energy out of the day, as the Lions were bowled out for 382 on a slow track after an uncontested toss at the venue.
Team Strategy
England wanted to field first to build bowling fitness before the initial Test match at the main venue, starting on November 21st.
In a possible hint towards their first-Test plans, the visiting team selected an all-pace attack – four specialist bowlers plus Stokes – and omitted off-spinner Bashir in the Lions.
Batting Standouts
Jacob Bethell failed to press his case for inclusion in the Test side, making only two, but Will Jacks boosted his claim to be selected later in the tour by hitting 84.
Ben McKinney, Cox, 17-year-old Rew and Matthew Potts also scored half-centuries.
Low-key Atmosphere
The team's plan to play a solitary warm-up game against the development squad has been criticized by some ex-players but Stokes hit back by labeling the doubters "has-beens".
A low-pressure first day in front of a small crowd of spectators at Lilac Hill was certainly a world away from what the team will encounter at a packed main stadium the following week.
Stokes Excellent Return
The captain 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 managed a complete participation in any of the team's previous four series because of various injuries and the team's chances of winning back the series are vastly diminished if he is absent from any of the five matches in the host country.
He has been bowling at full pace for 60 days and appeared in good condition on the match day, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his dismissals were presented.
Will Jacks Pushes Case
Jacks is unlikely to play in the opening match – 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 nearly run-a-ball pace.
Even before the doubt over Mark Wood, the five fast bowlers in the England XI for this game may not have been the attack for the initial match.
Carse was absent from the first day because of sickness, with his place going to Josh Tongue. Tongue had Lions opener McKinney caught behind just after lunch.
Though the captain took the scalps, Jofra Archer caught the eye. He was lively with the fresh ball and again after lunch, when he caused problems for Will Jacks.
In the absence of Shoaib Bashir and with Mark Wood departing, Joe Root was asked to bowl 14 overs of his spin bowling. It was mediocre fare, costing 117 at an run rate of over eight.
Root at least claimed a wicket in the closing stages when Fisher unexpectedly struck a full toss to the fielder before Jofra Archer dismissed with a bouncer Potts for 53 with the final ball of the day.
