Ben Stokes Claims 6 Wickets in England Test Series Warm-up

Practice match, Lilac Hill (first day of 3)

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

National team: awaiting batting

Ben Stokes delivered 6 scalps in his first action after July but England faced an fitness worry about fast bowler Wood on the first day of their Test preparation versus England Lions in Perth.

Stokes, making his comeback after nearly four months out with a shoulder injury, delivered 16 overs across three spells for his 6-52 versus the Lions – each to catches on the leg side.

Pace bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after nine months out with a knee injury, delivered a scheduled amount of 8 overs before exiting the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring problem. He will receive scanning on Friday.

The Wood situation removed the intensity out of the day, as the Lions were dismissed for 382 on a sluggish pitch after an uncontested toss at the venue.

The tourists wanted to bowl first to accumulate bowling time before the first Ashes Test at Optus Stadium, starting on November 21st.

In a potential indication towards their opening Test strategy, the tourists fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialist bowlers plus the captain – and omitted off-spinner Bashir in the Lions.

Jacob Bethell didn't strengthen his case for selection in the Test team, making only two, but Will Jacks enhanced his credentials to be called upon during the series by hitting 84.

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

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

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 sold-out Optus Stadium next week.

The captain was excellent in the series against the Indian team in the home summer, only to strain himself to breaking point. He missed the final Test with a shoulder tear.

The skipper has not completed a full part in any of the team's previous four series because of different fitness issues and the team's hopes of winning back the Ashes 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 fine shape on the match day, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his dismissals were presented.

Jacks is not expected to play in the first Test – England look to have shown their hand with the XI selected here. Still, he may have moved himself ahead of the struggling Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at almost a run a ball.

Prior to the doubt over Wood, the five seamers in the team lineup for this match may not have been the attack for the initial match.

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

Though Stokes took the scalps, Archer impressed observers. He was lively with the new ball and again after lunch, when he discomforted Will Jacks.

In the absence of Shoaib Bashir and with Mark Wood departing, Root was asked to bowl 14 overs of his spin bowling. It was mediocre fare, conceding 117 at an economy of more than eight.

Joe Root at least took a scalp in the final session when Matt Fisher somehow hit a full toss to mid-on before Archer dismissed with a bouncer Potts for fifty-three with the last delivery of the day.