Stokes Claims Six Scalps in England Test Series Preparation Match
Tour match, Lilac Hill (first day of 3)
Development squad 382: Will Jacks 84, McKinney 67; Stokes 6-52
National team: still to bat
Ben Stokes delivered six wickets in his initial appearance following July but the tourists faced an fitness worry involving Mark Wood on the first day of their Test preparation against the development squad in Perth.
Skipper's Impressive Comeback
The England captain, making his comeback after nearly four months out with a shoulder injury, bowled 16 overs across three spells for his six for fifty-two versus England Lions – each to catches on the on-side.
Wood's Injury Concern
Fast bowler Mark Wood, also making his comeback after 9 months out with a knee problem, delivered a scheduled amount of eight overs before exiting the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring issue. He will undergo scanning on Friday.
Wood's injury drained the energy out of the day, as the Lions were bowled out for three hundred eighty-two on a slow, low surface after an automatic 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 possible hint towards their opening Test strategy, the tourists selected an all-pace attack – four specialists plus Stokes – and omitted spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in the development squad.
Batting Standouts
Jacob Bethell failed to press his claim for inclusion in the Test side, making just two runs, but Will Jacks boosted his claim to be called upon later in the tour by scoring 84.
McKinney, Jordan Cox, teenage Thomas Rew and Matthew Potts also made half-centuries.
Low-key Atmosphere
The team's plan to play a solitary warm-up game against the Lions has been criticized by some ex-players but the captain hit back by labeling the doubters "former players".
A low-pressure opening day in front of a small crowd of fans at Lilac Hill was certainly a world away from what the team will face at a packed Optus Stadium next week.
Captain's Supreme Return
The captain was superb in the series against India in the domestic season, only to strain himself to breaking point. He missed the last match with a shoulder tear.
The captain has not managed a full part in any of the team's past four series because of various injuries and the team's chances of regaining the series are vastly diminished if he is absent from any of the five Tests in the host country.
He has been practicing at maximum speed for two months 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.
Jacks Pushes Case
Will Jacks is unlikely to play in the opening match – England look to have revealed their intentions with the XI selected here. Nevertheless, 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 Wood, the five seamers in the team lineup for this game may not have been the attack for the initial match.
Brydon Carse was absent from the opening day because of illness, with his place going to Josh Tongue. Josh Tongue had opening batsman McKinney edging to the keeper just after the break.
Though the captain took the wickets, Jofra Archer impressed observers. He was energetic with the new ball and once more after the interval, when he caused problems for Will Jacks.
In the absence of Shoaib Bashir and with Mark Wood departing, Root was asked to bowl 14 overs of his spin bowling. It was average performance, conceding 117 at an run rate of over eight.
Joe Root at least claimed a wicket in the closing stages when Fisher unexpectedly struck a full toss to mid-on before Jofra Archer dismissed with a bouncer Matthew Potts for 53 with the final ball of the day.