Stokes Claims 6 Scalps in England Test Series Preparation Match

Tour match, Perth venue (day one of 3)

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

England XI: awaiting batting

Ben Stokes delivered six wickets in his first action since July but the tourists faced an fitness worry about fast bowler Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up against the development squad in Western Australia.

Stokes, returning after approximately four months away with a shoulder problem, bowled sixteen overs across three bowling spells for his 6-52 against the Lions – all to catches on the on-side.

Pace bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after 9 months out with a knee problem, bowled a pre-planned number of eight overs before departing the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring issue. He will undergo scanning on the following day.

Wood's injury sucked the intensity out of the day, as the Lions were dismissed for three hundred eighty-two on a slow track after an automatic toss at Lilac Hill.

The tourists wanted to bowl first to get overs in their legs before the initial Test match at the main venue, beginning on November 21st.

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

Jacob Bethell didn't strengthen his claim for selection in the Test side, making only two, but Jacks enhanced his credentials to be called upon later in the tour by scoring 84.

Ben McKinney, Jordan Cox, teenage Thomas Rew and Potts also made half-centuries.

The team's decision to play a single practice match against the Lions has been criticized by some ex-players but the captain hit back by labeling the doubters "past players".

A low-pressure opening day in front of a small crowd of spectators at Lilac Hill was certainly a world away from what England will encounter at a sold-out main stadium the following week.

The captain was excellent in the contest against India in the home summer, only to strain himself to breaking point. He missed the last match with a shoulder tear.

The skipper has not completed a complete participation in any of the team's previous four tours because of different fitness issues and the team's chances of winning back the series are vastly diminished if he is absent from any of the five matches in the host country.

He has been practicing at maximum speed for two months and looked 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 not expected to play in the opening match – the team look to have revealed their intentions with the XI selected here. Nevertheless, he may have nudged himself ahead of the struggling Jacob Bethell with his 84, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

Prior to the doubt over Mark Wood, the five seamers in the team lineup for this game may not have been the bowling unit for the first Test.

Carse was absent from the first day because of illness, with his position going to Josh Tongue. Josh Tongue had opening batsman McKinney edging to the keeper just after the break.

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

In the absence of Bashir and with Mark Wood leaving the field, Root was asked to bowl fourteen overs of his off-spin. It was average performance, conceding 117 runs at an economy of over eight.

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