Stokes Takes Six Scalps in England Test Series Preparation Match

Tour match, Perth venue (first day of 3)

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

England XI: yet to bat

Ben Stokes delivered six wickets in his first action after July but England faced an fitness worry about Mark Wood on the first day of their Test preparation against England Lions in Perth.

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

Pace bowler Mark Wood, also making his comeback after nine months away with a knee injury, bowled a pre-planned number of eight overs before departing the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring issue. He will undergo scanning on Friday.

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

England aimed to field first to accumulate bowling time before the first Ashes Test at Optus Stadium, beginning on November 21st.

In a possible hint towards their opening Test strategy, the visiting team selected an all-pace attack – four specialists plus Stokes – and omitted spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in the development squad.

Bethell failed to press his case for inclusion in the Test team, making only two, but Jacks boosted his credentials to be called upon during the series by hitting 84.

Ben McKinney, Cox, teenage Rew and Potts also scored fifties.

The team's plan to play a single warm-up game against the Lions has been questioned by some ex-players but Stokes hit back by labeling the doubters "has-beens".

A low-pressure first day in front of a smattering of spectators at Lilac Hill was definitely a world away from what England will face at a packed main stadium the following week.

Stokes was superb in the series against the Indian team in the domestic season, only to strain himself to injury. He missed the final Test with a shoulder tear.

The captain has not managed a complete participation in any of the team's previous four tours because of various injuries and the team's chances of winning back the series are significantly reduced if he is absent from any of the five Tests in Australia.

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

Will Jacks is not expected to play in the opening match – the team look to have revealed their hand with the XI named here. Nevertheless, he may have moved himself in front of the struggling Bethell with his 84, which came at almost a run a ball.

Prior to the doubt over Wood, the five seamers in the England XI for this game may not have been the attack for the first Test.

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

Although Stokes took the scalps, Archer caught the eye. He was lively with the fresh ball and once more after the interval, when he discomforted Jacks.

In the absence of Shoaib Bashir and with Wood departing, Joe Root was required to deliver 14 overs of his spin bowling. It was average performance, conceding 117 runs at an run rate of over eight.

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