Stokes Claims 6 Scalps in English Test Series Warm-up

Practice game, Lilac Hill (first day of three)

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

National team: still to bat

The England captain delivered six wickets in his return to play after July but the tourists encountered an injury concern regarding Mark Wood on the first day of their Test preparation versus England Lions in Perth.

The England captain, returning after nearly four months out with a shoulder problem, delivered 16 overs across three bowling spells for his six for fifty-two against England Lions – each to catches on the leg side.

Pace bowler Wood, himself returning after nine months away with a knee injury, delivered a scheduled amount of eight overs before exiting the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring issue. He will have a scan on the following day.

The Wood situation sucked the intensity out of the day, as the Lions were bowled out for 382 on a slow, low surface after an automatic toss at the venue.

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

In a possible hint towards their opening Test strategy, the tourists selected an fast bowling lineup – four specialist bowlers plus Stokes – and omitted off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in the development squad.

Bethell didn't strengthen his case for inclusion in the Test side, making only two, but Will Jacks boosted his credentials to be called upon during the series by scoring 84.

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

The team's plan to play a single warm-up game against the development squad has been criticized by some former players but Stokes hit back by labeling the critics "former players".

A low-pressure opening day in front of a small crowd of fans at Lilac Hill was certainly a world away from what England will encounter at a sold-out Optus Stadium the following week.

The captain was excellent in the contest against India in the domestic season, only to push himself to injury. He was absent from the final Test with a torn shoulder.

The captain has not completed 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 series are significantly reduced if he is absent from any of the five Tests in the host country.

He has been practicing at maximum speed for 60 days and appeared in good condition on Wednesday, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his wickets were presented.

Will 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 nudged himself in front of the out-of-sorts 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 missed the opening day because of sickness, with his position going to Josh Tongue. Tongue had opening batsman Ben McKinney caught behind just after lunch.

Although Stokes took the wickets, Jofra Archer impressed observers. He was energetic with the fresh ball and once more after the interval, when he discomforted Jacks.

In the omission of Shoaib Bashir and with Wood leaving the field, Joe Root was asked to deliver 14 overs of his off-spin. It was mediocre fare, conceding 117 at an run rate of more than eight.

Root at least claimed a wicket in the closing stages when Fisher somehow struck a full toss to mid-on before Archer dismissed with a bouncer Potts for fifty-three with the last delivery of the day.