Ben Stokes Takes 6 Scalps in English Test Series Warm-up

Practice match, Lilac Hill (first day of three)

England Lions 382: Jacks 84, McKinney 67; Stokes 6-52

England XI: still to bat

The England captain produced six wickets in his initial appearance after July but the tourists faced an injury concern involving Mark Wood on the opening day of their Test preparation versus England Lions in Western Australia.

The England captain, returning after nearly four months out with a shoulder injury, delivered sixteen overs across three spells for his 6-52 versus England Lions – each to catches on the on-side.

Pace bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after 9 months away with a knee injury, delivered a scheduled amount of 8 overs before leaving the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring issue. He will undergo scanning on the following day.

The Wood situation removed 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.

England aimed to field first to accumulate bowling time before the first Ashes Test at the main venue, starting on November 21st.

In a possible hint towards their opening Test strategy, the tourists fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialists plus Stokes – and left spin bowler Bashir in the development squad.

Jacob Bethell failed to press his claim for inclusion in the Test side, making just two runs, but Will Jacks boosted his credentials to be selected later in the tour by scoring 84.

McKinney, Jordan Cox, 17-year-old Thomas Rew and Matthew Potts also made half-centuries.

England's decision to play a single practice match against the development squad has been questioned by some former players but Stokes responded by labeling the doubters "has-beens".

A low-pressure first day in front of a smattering of spectators at the ground was certainly a world away from what the team will face at a sold-out Optus Stadium the following week.

Stokes was excellent in the series against the Indian team in the home summer, only to push himself to breaking point. He was absent from the last match with a torn shoulder.

The captain has not completed a full part in any of England's past four series because of various injuries and the team's hopes of winning back the series are vastly diminished if he misses any of the five Tests in the host country.

He has been practicing at full pace for two months and looked in good condition on the match day, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his dismissals were gifted.

Jacks is not expected to play in the opening match – England look to have shown their intentions with the XI selected here. Still, he may have moved himself ahead of the out-of-sorts Jacob Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at almost a run a ball.

Prior to the concern over Wood, the five seamers in the team lineup for this game may not have been the attack for the first Test.

Brydon Carse missed the first day because of illness, with his place going to Tongue. Tongue had opening batsman Ben McKinney caught behind just after the break.

Although Stokes took the wickets, Jofra Archer impressed observers. He was energetic with the fresh ball and again after the interval, when he discomforted Will Jacks.

In the omission of Bashir and with Wood leaving the field, Root was required to deliver fourteen overs of his spin bowling. It was mediocre fare, costing 117 at an economy of over eight.

Joe Root at least took a wicket in the final session when Fisher somehow hit a full delivery to the fielder before Archer dismissed with a bouncer Matthew Potts for fifty-three with the last delivery of the day.