The lack of intensity in the game and the limp dismissals of the Lions batters to Stokes were not the only takeaways from the footage released by the ECB of their captain’s six-wicket haul.
The lack of spice in the pitch was also evident in how Stokes bent his back only to extract bounce that was marginally above waist-height to the batsmen.
Zak Crawley, part of a top three who all posted decent scores in England’s first innings, was far from convincing in his comments about the appropriateness of the Lilac Hill track for what was to come on tour.
“Cricket’s cricket – just time in the middle. We’re doing everything we can with what we’ve got – we feel like we’ll be ready next week,” Crawley said of England’s preparation.
“As far as I’m concerned, we’re getting used to the weather, getting used to the flies. It’s good prep. I feel like we’ll be ready next week.”
Former England captain Michael Vaughan raised doubts over the visitors choosing to play what is effectively an internal match as their only warm-up game. Many of their starting XI in Perth have not played a first-class game since early September.
“We’ve all seen those games before – the intensity drops off,” Vaughan told this masthead this week before the game.
“It might be hard on day one and a half [of day two], but you get into day three and there’s no point in playing.
“Is the preparation the right preparation? When you’ve got all these players who not only haven’t played here but haven’t played any cricket for months, they’re going on the adage they’ll be fresh mentally.”
Wood remains available for the first Test though after being cleared of injury, though he will likely enter the series underdone with just eight overs under his belt against the Lions. He has not played a competitive game in nine months due to a knee injury.
“Following precautionary scans on Friday, England fast bowler Mark Wood has been cleared of any concerns regarding his left hamstring,” the England and Wales Cricket Board said in a statement released on Saturday.
“Wood will continue to train as planned in the build-up to the first Test in Perth.”
Former England seamer Anderson, part of the victorious campaign in 2010-11 but also the whitewashes to Australia of 2006-07 and 2013-14 and heavy losses in 2017-18 and 2021-22, is tipping Australia to win the series. But his prediction has not come without a backhander.
“Australia have been so strong and so consistent in their team selection over the last 10 years, that this probably is their weakest team [in the last 15 years],” Anderson told TNT Sports.
“There are doubts around who’s going to bat in the top three, Pat Cummins missing is huge. There are question marks there, definitely, and there are cracks that England could potentially expose. There’s a great chance for England to get on top early.
“But I don’t think England are quite favourites – I’d say Australia are still favourites, in Australia. There’s still a lot of quality in their batting line-up, there’s still a lot of quality with their bowlers as well, even if Cummins is missing.
“It’s a tough one to call, so I’d say Australia, just.”
With AAP
