Tour match, Lilac Hill (first day of 3)
Development squad 382: Jacks 84, McKinney 67; Ben Stokes 6-52
National team: still to bat
The England captain produced 6 scalps in his initial appearance following July but England faced an injury concern about Mark Wood on the first day of their Test preparation against the development squad in Western Australia.
Captain's Impressive Return
The England captain, 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 taken on the on-side.
Wood's Injury Worry
Pace bowler Mark Wood, also making his comeback after nine months out with a knee problem, delivered a pre-planned number of 8 overs before leaving the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring problem. He will receive scanning on the following day.
The Wood situation drained the intensity out of the day, as the England Lions were dismissed for three hundred eighty-two on a slow, low surface after an uncontested toss at the venue.
Team Strategy
The tourists wanted to field first to get overs in their legs before the initial Test match at the main venue, starting on 21 November.
In a possible hint towards their opening Test strategy, the visiting team fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialist bowlers plus Stokes – and left spin bowler Bashir in the Lions.
Batting Standouts
Jacob Bethell didn't strengthen his case for selection in the Test side, making only two, but Will Jacks enhanced his credentials to be selected during the series by hitting eighty-four.
McKinney, Jordan Cox, teenage Rew and Matthew Potts also made fifties.
Relaxed Atmosphere
England's plan to play a single warm-up game against the Lions has been questioned by some ex-players but the captain hit back by labeling the critics "former players".
A relaxed first day in front of a smattering of fans at the ground was certainly a world away from what the team will encounter at a packed Optus Stadium next week.
Stokes Excellent Performance
The captain was superb in the series against India in the home summer, only to push himself to breaking point. He was absent from the final Test with a torn shoulder.
The captain has not managed a full part in any of England's past four series because of various injuries and the team's hopes of regaining the Ashes are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five Tests in the host country.
He has been practicing at full pace for 60 days and appeared in fine shape on Wednesday, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his dismissals were presented.
Jacks Strengthens Claim
Jacks is not expected to play in the opening match – the team look to have shown their intentions with the XI selected here. Nevertheless, he may have moved himself in front of the out-of-sorts Jacob Bethell with his 84, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.
Even before the concern over Wood, the five seamers in the team lineup for this game may not have been the bowling unit for the initial match.
Carse was absent from the opening day because of illness, with his place going to Tongue. Tongue had Lions opener Ben McKinney edging to the keeper just after lunch.
Although Stokes took the wickets, Archer impressed observers. He was lively 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 Wood leaving the field, Root was required to bowl 14 overs of his spin bowling. It was average performance, conceding 117 at an economy of over eight.
Joe Root at least took a scalp in the closing stages when Matt Fisher somehow hit a full toss to the fielder before Jofra Archer dismissed with a bouncer Potts for fifty-three with the last delivery of the day.
