England captain Ben Stokes snared four wickets but a hamstring injury to Mark Wood put a dampener on the visitors’ low-key Ashes warm-up match in Perth.
Stokes put any concerns over his fitness to bed on Thursday when he produced a strong bowling display on day one of England’s three-day warm-up match against an England Lions side at Lilac Hill.
However, Wood was forced from the field after sending down eight wicketless overs with a hamstring problem.
The England team issued a statement to say their plan was for Wood to only bowl eight overs and he would not be returning for the rest of the opening day’s play.
“He has some stiffness in his left hamstring, which has kept him off the field for some time during the second session of the first day and will undergo a precautionary scan tomorrow.
“He is expected to bowl again in two days’ time.”
Wood’s mishap came a day after Australian squad members Josh Hazlewood and Sean Abbott limped off the SCG with hamstring problems while representing NSW in their final hit-out before the Ashes.
Hazlewood is confident of being able to play but Abbott has been ruled out.
Wood, who has been sidelined for the past nine months with a knee injury, had figures of 0-12 from four overs in his opening spell. Then 0-15 from his second four-over set.
Stokes, who who had been sidelined since July with a shoulder injury, snared figures of 4-45 from 14 overs as the Lions reached 5-263.
The 34-year-old’s return to the bowling crease was a huge relief to England, who need the star allrounder firing on all cylinders if they are to be a chance of upsetting Australia.
Wood and Jofra Archer bowled well during their opening bowling spells.
Archer has played just two Tests over the past four years, but the injury-prone quick was economical on the way to 0-17 from six overs in the first session. He returned for another four-over stint in the second session.
England appear set to rotate both Wood and Archer throughout the five-Test Ashes series.
But the big question remains – will they both be unleashed for the opening Test?
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) November 13, 2025
Cox c Wood b Stokes
???? 1⃣6⃣8⃣-4⃣ pic.twitter.com/dqXPjJoIqf
England named a full-strength XI for the warm-up match, but interestingly selected spinner Shoaib Bashir as part of the England Lions side.
The 22-year-old has played 19 Tests, including three of the five in England’s recent 2-2 series draw with India.
But his omission from the main England side for the warm-up match could indicate the visitors are unlikely to select him on the pace-friendly Optus Stadium wicket, with Joe Root’s part-time spin an alternative option.
Archer, Wood, Gus Atkinson and Josh Tongue were named as part of a four-pronged pace attack for the warm-up match, with Stokes adding further firepower.
Stokes snared the scalps of Tom Haines (20) and Jacob Bethell (2) as the Lions slipped from 0-47 to 2-61.
Ben McKinney (67) was the Lions’ best in the morning session, but he was removed by Tongue shortly after the lunch to reduce the England ‘B’ side to 3-120.
Jordan Cox made 53 before he was caught by Wood off Stokes while Will Jacks also made a half-century.
Right-arm quick Brydon Carse was unwell on Thursday and stayed at the team hotel.
England haven’t won an Ashes series in Australia since 2010/11, and their decision to have only one warm-up match has drawn widespread criticism.
But Stokes is confident the preparation will be sufficient, and is optimistic about what his team can achieve.
with AAP
>Cricket News
%20(3).jpeg)
0 Comments