- England Lions plundered 382 from 79.3 overs in tour match
- Ben Stokes finished with figures of 6-52, but bowled poorly
- Heavy criticism followed from fans on X ahead of first Ashes Test
Anxious England cricket fans have turned on captain Ben Stokes ahead of the first Ashes Test in Perth – despite the all-rounder snaring six wickets against the England Lions in a warm up match.
Stokes, 34, was the pick of the bowlers given his figures of 6-52 from 16 overs, but it was the manner of his dismissals which has supporters on edge.
Tom Haines, Jacob Bethell, Jordan Cox, Rehan Ahmed, Will Jacks and Tom Lawes all fell victim to Stokes’ medium-pace bowling – but highlights on social media showed every Lions batsman got himself out with a rash shot as opposed to a quality delivery from the skipper.
‘So just to clarify, the plan is to bowl long hops at the Australians?,’ posted one disgruntled fan on the official England Cricket page on X.
‘Was this good bowling or awful batting? They are all getting out the same way,’ said another.
‘Blimey – slow long hops, chipped to boundary fielders. He [Stokes] looks useless,’ a third weighed in with.
Anxious cricket fans have turned on England captain Ben Stokes ahead of the first Ashes Test in Perth – despite the veteran snaring six wickets against the England Lions in a warm up match
Stokes, 34, was the pick of the bowlers given his figures of 6-52, but it was the manner of his dismissals which has supporters on edge
‘Gotta be the worst six-wicket haul in history,’ bluntly added a fourth.
It comes as the tourists are monitoring the fitness of quick Mark Wood, who was sent for scans following day one of play against the Lions at Lilac Hill.
Wood, 35, who has not played a competitive fixture since February, bowled eight wicketless overs.
He then left the field after experiencing some stiffness in his hamstring.
The official statement from the England Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed it was a precautionary scan, with the paceman expected to again bowl on November 15.
Another concern was the fact the English Lions plundered 382 from just 79.3 overs, with the bowling attack of the tourists looking pedestrian at times.
Earlier this week, legendary England all-rounder Ian Botham said Brendon McCullum’s side have made a huge mistake with their preparation ahead of the Ashes.
Botham told reporters not testing themselves against at least one local XI ahead of the first Test ‘borders on arrogance.’
The tourists are monitoring the fitness of quick Mark Wood, who was sent for scans on his hamstring following day one of play against the English Lions at Lilac Hill
Legendary England all-rounder Ian Botham (left) fears the preparation of Brendon McCullum’s side ahead of the Ashes starting on November 21 ‘borders on arrogance’
It also remains to be seen if McCullum’s attack-minded ‘Bazball’ focus at the crease is effective across five Tests.
‘It’s not the way I would have prepared,’ Botham said.
‘I think historically, you have to acclimatise when you come down here. You’ve got to remember there’s 24 million people [population] down here, not 11.
‘You have to take that on board. ‘[Also] the ball does seem to get to you quicker [in Perth] and the light is different.
‘Then you’ve also got the ‘Fremantle Doctor’ [the afternoon sea breeze in Perth]… there’s all kinds of things go into the melting pot.’
The first Test begins at Perth’s Optus Stadium from November 21.
