Stokes Claims 6 Scalps in English Test Series Warm-up

Practice match, Perth venue (first day of 3)

Development squad 382: Will Jacks 84, Ben McKinney 67; Stokes 6-52

England XI: yet to bat

The England captain produced six wickets in his first action after July but the tourists encountered an injury concern regarding fast bowler Wood on the first day of their Test preparation against England Lions in Western Australia.

The England captain, making his comeback after nearly four months out with a shoulder injury, bowled 16 overs across three bowling spells for his 6-52 against the Lions – all to catches taken on the leg side.

Pace bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after 9 months away with a knee injury, bowled a scheduled amount of eight overs before departing the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring problem. He will undergo scanning on Friday.

The Wood situation drained the energy out of the day, as the Lions were bowled out for 382 on a sluggish pitch after an automatic toss at Lilac Hill.

England wanted to field first to build bowling fitness before the initial Test match at Optus Stadium, starting on November 21st.

In a potential indication 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.

Bethell failed to press his claim for inclusion in the Test team, making just two runs, but Jacks enhanced his credentials to be called upon later in the tour by scoring 84.

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

England's decision to play a single warm-up game against the development squad has been criticized by some ex-players but Stokes hit back by labeling the doubters "has-beens".

A low-pressure opening day in front of a smattering of spectators at Lilac Hill was certainly a world away from what England will face at a packed Optus Stadium the following week.

Stokes was superb in the contest against the Indian team in the domestic season, only to push himself to injury. He was absent from the last match with a shoulder tear.

The skipper has not completed a complete participation in any of the team's past four series because of different fitness issues and the tourists' hopes of regaining the Ashes are vastly diminished if he misses any of the five Tests in Australia.

He has been practicing at maximum speed for 60 days and appeared in good condition on the match day, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his dismissals were gifted.

Will Jacks is unlikely to play in the first Test – England look to have shown their hand with the eleven named here. Nevertheless, he may have moved himself ahead of the out-of-sorts Bethell with his 84, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

Even before the concern over Wood, the five fast bowlers in the team lineup for this match may not have been the bowling unit for the first Test.

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

Though Stokes took the wickets, Jofra Archer caught the eye. He was energetic with the fresh ball and again after lunch, when he discomforted Will Jacks.

In the omission of Bashir and with Wood departing, Joe Root was required to bowl 14 overs of his off-spin. It was mediocre fare, costing 117 at an economy of over eight.

Joe Root at least claimed a wicket in the closing stages when Matt Fisher somehow hit a full delivery to mid-on before Archer bounced out Potts for fifty-three with the last delivery of the day.