Stokes Takes Six Scalps in England Test Series Warm-up

Practice match, Perth venue (day one of three)

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

England XI: awaiting batting

The England captain achieved six wickets in his initial appearance after July but the tourists faced an fitness worry regarding fast bowler Wood on the opening day of their Test preparation against England Lions in Western Australia.

Stokes, making his comeback after approximately four months away with a shoulder problem, delivered sixteen overs across three bowling spells for his six for fifty-two versus the Lions – each to catches on the leg side.

Fast bowler Mark Wood, also making his comeback after 9 months away with a knee problem, bowled a pre-planned number of eight overs before leaving the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring issue. He will undergo scanning on the following day.

The Wood situation drained the energy out of the day, as the Lions were dismissed for three hundred eighty-two on a slow, low surface after an automatic toss at the venue.

The tourists wanted to field first to build bowling fitness before the first Ashes Test at the main venue, 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 off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in the Lions.

Bethell didn't strengthen his claim for selection in the Test team, making just two runs, but Jacks boosted his claim to be selected later in the tour by swiping 84.

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

England's decision to play a solitary practice match against the development squad has been questioned by some ex-players but the captain hit back by labeling the critics "former players".

A relaxed first day in front of a small crowd of spectators at Lilac Hill was definitely a world away from what the team will face at a packed Optus Stadium the following week.

Stokes was superb in the series against India in the domestic season, only to strain himself to breaking point. He was absent from the final Test with a torn shoulder.

The skipper has not managed a complete participation in any of England's past four series because of different fitness issues and the tourists' chances of winning back the series are vastly diminished if he misses 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 not expected to feature in the opening match – the team look to have revealed their hand with the eleven selected here. Still, he may have moved himself ahead of the out-of-sorts Bethell with his 84, which came at almost a run a ball.

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

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

Although Stokes took the wickets, Archer impressed observers. He was energetic with the fresh ball and once more after the interval, when he caused problems for Will Jacks.

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

Root at least claimed a wicket in the closing stages when Matt Fisher unexpectedly hit a full toss to the fielder before Archer dismissed with a bouncer Potts for fifty-three with the final ball of the day.