Stokes Takes Six Wickets in English Test Series Warm-up

Tour game, Lilac Hill (first day of 3)

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

England XI: awaiting batting

Ben Stokes achieved 6 scalps in his first action after July but England faced an fitness worry regarding Mark Wood on the opening day of their Test preparation against the development squad in Western Australia.

Stokes, making his comeback after almost four months out with a shoulder problem, bowled 16 overs across three spells for his six for fifty-two versus England Lions – all to catches on the leg side.

Pace bowler Mark Wood, also making his comeback after nine months away with a knee problem, delivered a scheduled amount of eight overs before exiting the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring issue. He will have a scan on the following day.

The Wood situation removed the energy out of the day, as the Lions were bowled out for 382 on a slow track after an uncontested toss at the venue.

The tourists wanted to bowl first to get overs in their legs before the initial Test match at the main venue, beginning on 21 November.

In a potential indication towards their first-Test plans, the tourists fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialists plus the captain – and omitted spin bowler Bashir in the Lions.

Bethell didn't strengthen his case for selection in the Test side, making only two, but Will Jacks boosted his credentials to be called upon later in the tour by swiping 84.

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

England's decision to play a solitary warm-up game against the development squad has been questioned by some former players but the captain responded by calling the doubters "has-beens".

A low-pressure first day in front of a smattering of fans at the ground was certainly a world away from what the team will face at a sold-out Optus Stadium next week.

The captain was superb in the contest against India in the home summer, only to strain himself to breaking point. He missed the final Test with a torn shoulder.

The captain has not completed a full part in any of England's previous four series because of various injuries and the tourists' chances of regaining the series are vastly diminished if he is absent from any of the five matches in Australia.

He has been bowling at maximum speed for 60 days and appeared in fine shape on the match day, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his wickets were gifted.

Jacks is not expected to feature in the first Test – the team look to have shown their intentions with the XI selected here. Still, he may have moved himself in front of the out-of-sorts Jacob Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at almost a run a ball.

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

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

Although Stokes took the scalps, Jofra Archer caught the eye. He was lively with the new ball and again after the interval, when he caused problems for Will Jacks.

In the omission of Bashir and with Mark Wood departing, Joe Root was required to deliver fourteen overs of his spin bowling. It was average performance, costing 117 at an run rate of more than eight.

Root at least claimed a wicket in the closing stages when Fisher unexpectedly hit a full delivery to mid-on before Jofra Archer bounced out Matthew Potts for 53 with the final ball of the day.