Stokes Takes Six Wickets in England Test Series Preparation Match
Practice match, Perth venue (first day of 3)
Development squad 382: Jacks 84, McKinney 67; Stokes 6-52
England XI: still to bat
The England captain produced 6 scalps in his return to play after July but the tourists encountered an injury concern regarding Mark Wood on the opening day of their Test preparation versus the development squad in Perth.
Skipper's Impressive Return
Stokes, making his comeback after almost four months away with a shoulder injury, delivered 16 overs across three bowling spells for his 6-52 versus England Lions – all to catches on the on-side.
Wood's Injury Worry
Fast bowler Wood, also making his comeback after 9 months away with a knee problem, bowled a scheduled amount of 8 overs before leaving the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring problem. He will undergo scanning on the following day.
The Wood situation sucked the energy out of the day, as the England Lions were bowled out for three hundred eighty-two on a slow track after an automatic toss at the venue.
Team Strategy
England wanted to bowl first to get overs in their legs before the initial Test match at the main venue, beginning on 21 November.
In a potential indication towards their opening Test strategy, the tourists fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialists plus the captain – and omitted off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in the Lions.
Batting Standouts
Jacob Bethell didn't strengthen his case for inclusion in the Test team, making only two, but Jacks enhanced his claim to be called upon later in the tour by swiping eighty-four.
McKinney, Jordan Cox, teenage Thomas Rew and Potts also scored fifties.
Relaxed Environment
The team's decision to play a single warm-up game against the Lions has been questioned by some ex-players but Stokes hit back by labeling the critics "former players".
A relaxed opening day in front of a smattering of fans at the ground was definitely a different experience from what the team will face at a packed Optus Stadium next week.
Stokes Excellent Performance
The captain was superb in the contest against the Indian team in the home summer, only to push himself to injury. He missed the last match with a torn shoulder.
The captain has not managed a complete participation in any of England's previous four tours because of various injuries and the tourists' hopes of regaining the series are vastly diminished if he is absent from any of the five Tests in Australia.
He has been bowling at full pace 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 Strengthens Claim
Jacks is unlikely to play in the opening match – England look to have revealed their hand with the eleven named here. Nevertheless, he may have nudged himself in front of the out-of-sorts Bethell with his 84, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.
Even before the doubt over Mark Wood, the five fast bowlers in the team lineup for this match may not have been the bowling unit for the initial match.
Brydon Carse was absent from the first day because of sickness, with his position going to Tongue. Tongue had Lions opener McKinney edging to the keeper just after the break.
Though the captain took the wickets, Jofra Archer caught the eye. He was lively with the new ball and again after lunch, when he discomforted Jacks.
In the omission of Shoaib Bashir and with Wood departing, Root was required to bowl 14 overs of his off-spin. It was mediocre fare, costing 117 runs at an run rate of over eight.
Joe Root at least took a wicket in the closing stages when Fisher unexpectedly hit a full toss to mid-on before Jofra Archer bounced out Potts for fifty-three with the final ball of the day.
