Stokes Claims Six Wickets in England Test Series Preparation Match

Tour game, Lilac Hill (day one of 3)

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

National team: awaiting batting

The England captain delivered 6 scalps in his return to play following July but the tourists encountered an injury concern about Mark Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up versus the development squad in Perth.

The England captain, making his comeback after almost four months away with a shoulder injury, delivered sixteen overs across three spells for his six for fifty-two against England Lions – each to catches on the on-side.

Fast bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after nine months out with a knee injury, bowled a pre-planned number of 8 overs before departing the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring problem. He will have a scan on Friday.

The Wood situation removed the intensity out of the day, as the England Lions were dismissed for 382 on a slow, low surface after an automatic toss at Lilac Hill.

The tourists aimed to field first to accumulate bowling time before the initial Test match at Optus Stadium, starting on November 21st.

In a potential indication towards their first-Test plans, the tourists fielded 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 Will Jacks boosted his claim to be selected during the series by swiping eighty-four.

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

England's plan to play a single practice match against the development squad has been criticized by some ex-players but the captain responded by labeling the critics "has-beens".

A relaxed first day in front of a smattering of spectators at the ground was definitely a different experience from what England will face at a packed Optus Stadium next week.

The captain was superb in the contest against India in the domestic season, only to strain himself to injury. He missed the final Test with a torn shoulder.

The captain has not completed a complete participation in any of England's previous four series 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 matches in Australia.

He has been bowling at full pace for two months and appeared in good condition on the match day, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his wickets were gifted.

Will Jacks is not expected to play in the opening match – England look to have revealed their intentions with the XI named here. Still, he may have nudged himself ahead of the out-of-sorts Jacob Bethell with his 84, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

Even before the doubt over Mark Wood, the five fast bowlers in the team lineup for this match may not have been the attack for the first Test.

Brydon Carse was absent from the opening day because of sickness, with his position going to Tongue. Tongue had Lions opener Ben McKinney caught behind 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 Jacks.

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

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