Stokes Claims 6 Wickets in England Test Series Warm-up

Practice match, Lilac Hill (first day of three)

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

National team: yet to bat

Ben Stokes produced six wickets in his first action following July but England encountered an injury concern about fast bowler Wood on the first day of their Test preparation against the development squad in Perth.

The England captain, returning after approximately four months out with a shoulder injury, bowled sixteen overs across three spells for his six for fifty-two versus the Lions – each to catches on the on-side.

Pace bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after nine months out with a knee problem, delivered a pre-planned number of eight overs before leaving the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring issue. He will receive scanning on the following day.

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

England wanted to bowl first to get overs in their legs before the first Ashes Test at the main venue, starting on November 21st.

In a potential indication towards their first-Test plans, the visiting team fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialists plus Stokes – and omitted off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in the development squad.

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

McKinney, Cox, 17-year-old Thomas Rew and Potts also scored fifties.

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

A low-pressure opening day in front of a small crowd of fans at the ground was certainly a different experience from what England will encounter at a packed main stadium the following week.

The captain was excellent in the contest against the Indian team in the domestic season, only to push himself to injury. He missed the last match with a shoulder tear.

The captain has not managed a complete participation in any of England's past four tours because of different fitness issues and the team's chances of winning back the Ashes are significantly reduced if he is absent from any of the five matches in the host country.

He has been practicing at full pace 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 wickets were gifted.

Jacks is unlikely to play in the first Test – England look to have revealed their hand with the eleven named here. Still, he may have nudged himself in front of the struggling Jacob Bethell with his 84, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

Even before the concern over Wood, the five seamers in the England XI for this match may not have been the attack for the initial match.

Carse missed the first day because of illness, with his place going to Tongue. Tongue had Lions opener McKinney edging to the keeper just after the break.

Though Stokes took the scalps, Jofra Archer caught the eye. He was energetic with the new ball and again after lunch, when he discomforted Will Jacks.

In the omission of Shoaib Bashir and with Wood departing, Root was required to deliver 14 overs of his off-spin. It was average performance, costing 117 at an run rate of over eight.

Joe Root at least took a scalp in the closing stages when Matt Fisher somehow hit a full delivery to mid-on before Jofra Archer dismissed with a bouncer Potts for 53 with the final ball of the day.