Tour game, Lilac Hill (day one of three)
Development squad 382: Will Jacks 84, Ben McKinney 67; Stokes 6-52
England XI: yet to bat
The England captain achieved six wickets in his return to play following July but the tourists faced an fitness worry regarding Mark Wood on the opening day of their Test preparation against England Lions in Perth.
Skipper's Outstanding Comeback
Stokes, making his comeback after nearly four months out with a shoulder injury, delivered sixteen overs across three spells for his six for fifty-two against the Lions – each to catches on the leg side.
Wood's Injury Worry
Pace bowler Wood, also making his comeback after 9 months away with a knee problem, delivered a pre-planned number of eight overs before exiting the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring problem. He will receive scanning on Friday.
The Wood situation drained the energy out of the day, as the England Lions were bowled out for three hundred eighty-two on a sluggish pitch after an automatic toss at Lilac Hill.
Squad Planning
England wanted to field first to accumulate bowling time before the first Ashes Test at the main venue, starting on November 21st.
In a potential indication towards their opening Test strategy, the tourists selected an fast bowling lineup – four specialists plus the captain – and omitted off-spinner Bashir in the Lions.
Batting Standouts
Jacob Bethell didn't strengthen his case for inclusion in the Test side, making just two runs, but Jacks enhanced his credentials to be called upon later in the tour by hitting 84.
Ben McKinney, Jordan Cox, 17-year-old Rew and Matthew Potts also scored half-centuries.
Relaxed Atmosphere
The team's plan to play a single warm-up game against the Lions has been questioned by some former players but Stokes responded by calling the critics "has-beens".
A relaxed opening day in front of a small crowd of fans at the ground was certainly a different experience from what England will encounter at a packed Optus Stadium next week.
Captain's Supreme Performance
The captain was excellent in the contest against India in the home summer, only to push himself to breaking point. He was absent from the final Test with a shoulder tear.
The skipper has not managed a full part in any of England's past four series because of different fitness issues and the team's hopes of regaining the Ashes are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five matches in Australia.
He has been bowling at maximum speed for 60 days and looked in fine shape on Wednesday, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his dismissals were presented.
Jacks Pushes Claim
Will Jacks is not expected to play in the opening match – England look to have shown their hand with the XI selected here. Nevertheless, he may have nudged himself ahead of the out-of-sorts Bethell with his 84, which came at almost a run a ball.
Even before the concern over 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 first day because of sickness, with his place going to Tongue. Tongue had opening batsman Ben McKinney caught behind just after lunch.
Though the captain took the scalps, Jofra Archer impressed observers. He was lively with the new 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 deliver fourteen overs of his off-spin. It was average performance, costing 117 runs at an economy of over eight.
Root at least claimed a wicket in the final session when Fisher unexpectedly struck a full toss to the fielder before Archer bounced out Potts for fifty-three with the last delivery of the day.
