Stokes Takes 6 Wickets in English Test Series Preparation Match

Tour match, Perth venue (first day of 3)

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

England XI: yet to bat

Ben Stokes produced 6 scalps in his first action after July but England encountered an fitness worry involving fast bowler Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up against the development squad in Western Australia.

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

Fast bowler 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 issue. He will have a scan on Friday.

Wood's injury removed the energy out of the day, as the Lions were dismissed for three hundred eighty-two on a sluggish pitch after an uncontested toss at Lilac Hill.

The tourists aimed to bowl first to build bowling fitness before the initial Test match at Optus Stadium, beginning on November 21st.

In a potential indication towards their opening Test strategy, the tourists fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialist bowlers plus Stokes – and left spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in the Lions.

Jacob Bethell didn't strengthen his case for inclusion in the Test side, making just two runs, but Jacks enhanced his credentials to be selected during the series by hitting 84.

McKinney, Cox, teenage Rew and Potts also made fifties.

England's decision to play a single warm-up game against the Lions has been questioned by some former players but Stokes responded by calling the critics "past players".

A low-pressure opening day in front of a smattering of spectators at Lilac Hill was definitely a different experience from what England will face at a sold-out main stadium the following week.

The captain was excellent in the series against India in the domestic season, only to strain himself to breaking point. He missed the last match with a torn shoulder.

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

He has been bowling at maximum speed 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.

Will Jacks is unlikely to feature in the opening match – England look to have revealed their intentions with the eleven selected here. Nevertheless, he may have nudged himself in front of the struggling Bethell with his 84, which came at almost a run a ball.

Prior to the doubt over Mark 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 opening day because of illness, with his place going to Josh Tongue. Tongue had opening batsman Ben McKinney caught behind just after the break.

Although Stokes took the scalps, Archer caught the eye. He was lively with the new ball and once more after the interval, when he discomforted Jacks.

In the absence of Bashir and with Wood leaving the field, Joe Root was asked to deliver 14 overs of his off-spin. It was average performance, conceding 117 runs at an run rate of more than eight.

Root at least claimed a wicket in the closing stages when Matt Fisher unexpectedly hit a full toss to mid-on before Jofra Archer dismissed with a bouncer Matthew Potts for fifty-three with the last delivery of the day.