LION IN WAIT
CHRIS WOAKES was England’s star bowler for the second match running after Jonny Bairstow provided an injury scare.
Woakes took 6-54 against a Cricket Australia XI on the opening day of England’s final warm-up match before the First Test.
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It followed his match figures of 6-65 against the same opposition in Adelaide last week and was further evidence that the Warwickshire seamer is back to his best after an injury-hit summer.
By the close of day one, the CA team, made up mainly of youngsters and fringe state players, were 249-9.
Wicketkeeper Bairstow was forced to leave the field for 50 minutes for ice treatment on the middle finger of his left hand when he was struck by a Woakes delivery that bounced just in front of him.
There was some anxiety among the England management because Bairstow is such a vital component of the Test team – especially in the absence of sin-binned Ben Stokes.
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ASHES NEWS
Surrey’s Ben Foakes came on for his first taste of action with England and, within five minutes, held a catch of Woakes.
Those wishing for a dismissal reading caught Foakes, bowled Woakes were happy – although, technically, it was caught sub, bowled Woakes!
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England were delighted to see Bairstow return and his glovework looked unaffected. He held one fine diving catch low to his right.
After an unsuccessful first spell, Woakes took 4-8 in 22 balls in his second burst either side of lunch.
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Woakes was out for several weeks during the summer with a torn side muscle and was actually dropped for the final Test against West Indies. But he looks to be back in top rhythm now.
Craig Overton, pushing for a Test place, was economical enough and had two wickets while Stuart Broad collected one with the second new ball.
Moeen Ali got through 16 uneventful overs in his first bowl of the tour after suffering with a side strain.
Mason Crane went for 16 runs from the final over of the day and was the one England bowler to take some punishment, finishing with 0-87.
England's Ashes Test schedule
Nov 23-27 First Test (Brisbane)
Dec 2-6 Second Test (Adelaide)
Dec 14-18 Third Test (Perth)
Dec 26-30 Fourth Test (Melbourne)
Jan 4-8 Fifth Test (Sydney)
Jake Ball, the other contender alongside Overton for the fourth seamer’s spot, ran around the outfield during the lunch break and bowled gently in the nets following his ankle injury.
James Anderson, who missed training on Tuesday because of illness, was still feeling a little under the weather but he also sent down some deliveries in the nets.
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England's Ashes ODI schedule
Jan 11 vs CA XI (Sydney)
Jan 14 First ODI (Melbourne)
Jan 19 Second ODI (Brisbane)
Jan 21 Third ODI (Sydney)
Jan 26 Fourth ODI (Adelaide)
Jan 28 Fifth ODI (Perth)
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