Stokes Claims 6 Wickets in English Test Series Warm-up

Practice game, Lilac Hill (first day of 3)

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

National team: awaiting batting

The England captain delivered 6 scalps in his initial appearance after July but the tourists faced an fitness worry about Mark Wood on the first day of their Test preparation versus the development squad in Western Australia.

Stokes, returning after nearly four months out with a shoulder injury, delivered sixteen overs across three spells for his six for fifty-two versus the Lions – each to catches on the leg side.

Pace bowler Wood, also making his comeback after 9 months away with a knee injury, bowled a pre-planned number of 8 overs before leaving the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring issue. He will have a scan on the following day.

Wood's injury removed the intensity out of the day, as the England Lions were dismissed for 382 on a slow track after an automatic toss at Lilac Hill.

The tourists wanted to bowl first to accumulate bowling time before the initial Test match at Optus Stadium, beginning on 21 November.

In a potential indication towards their first-Test plans, the visiting team selected an fast bowling lineup – four specialist bowlers plus the captain – and left spin bowler Bashir in the development squad.

Jacob Bethell didn't strengthen his case for inclusion in the Test side, making just two runs, but Jacks boosted his credentials to be selected during the series by hitting eighty-four.

Ben McKinney, Jordan Cox, teenage Thomas Rew and Matthew Potts also scored fifties.

The team's plan to play a single warm-up game against the Lions has been criticized by some ex-players but the captain hit back by labeling the doubters "former players".

A relaxed opening day in front of a smattering of spectators at Lilac Hill was certainly a different experience from what England will face at a packed main stadium next week.

Stokes was excellent in the contest against India in the home summer, only to push himself to injury. He was absent from the last match with a shoulder tear.

The skipper has not completed a full part in any of the team's previous four tours because of various injuries and the tourists' chances of winning back the series are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five matches in Australia.

He has been bowling at maximum speed for 60 days and looked in fine shape on Wednesday, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his dismissals were presented.

Will Jacks is not expected to feature in the opening match – England look to have shown their hand with the XI named here. Nevertheless, he may have nudged himself in front of the struggling Bethell with his 84, which came at almost a run a ball.

Even before the doubt over Mark Wood, the five seamers in the England XI for this match may not have been the attack for the first Test.

Brydon Carse was absent from the first day because of sickness, with his position going to Tongue. Josh Tongue had opening batsman Ben McKinney caught behind just after lunch.

Although the captain took the scalps, Jofra Archer caught the eye. He was lively with the new ball and again after the interval, when he discomforted Jacks.

In the omission of Bashir and with Wood leaving the field, Joe Root was asked to bowl 14 overs of his spin bowling. It was average performance, costing 117 runs at an run rate of over eight.

Root at least took a wicket in the closing stages when Fisher unexpectedly struck a full delivery to the fielder before Jofra Archer dismissed with a bouncer Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.