Stokes Takes 6 Scalps in English Test Series Preparation Match

Tour game, Lilac Hill (first day of 3)

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

National team: awaiting batting

Ben Stokes achieved six wickets in his return to play following July but the tourists encountered an fitness worry about fast bowler Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up against England Lions in Perth.

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

Pace bowler Wood, himself returning after nine months away with a knee problem, 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.

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

England aimed to bowl first to accumulate bowling time before the initial Test match at the main venue, starting on November 21st.

In a possible hint towards their opening Test strategy, the tourists selected an all-pace attack – four specialist bowlers plus Stokes – and left off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in the development squad.

Jacob Bethell failed to press his case for selection in the Test team, making just two runs, but Jacks enhanced his credentials to be selected later in the tour by swiping 84.

Ben McKinney, Cox, teenage Thomas Rew and Matthew Potts also made half-centuries.

The team'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 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 packed Optus Stadium the following week.

The captain was superb in the contest against India in the domestic season, only to push himself to breaking point. He was absent from the final Test with a shoulder tear.

The captain has not managed a full part in any of England's past four tours because of various injuries and the team's chances of winning back the series are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five matches in Australia.

He has been bowling at maximum speed for 60 days and appeared in good condition on the match day, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his dismissals were gifted.

Jacks is unlikely to feature in the first Test – the team look to have shown their intentions with the eleven named here. Still, he may have nudged himself in front of the struggling Jacob Bethell with his 84, which came at almost a run a ball.

Even before the doubt over Mark Wood, the five seamers in the England XI for this game may not have been the bowling unit for the first Test.

Carse missed the opening day because of sickness, with his place going to Tongue. Tongue had opening batsman Ben McKinney caught behind just after lunch.

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

In the absence of Bashir and with Wood leaving the field, Root was asked to deliver 14 overs of his spin bowling. It was average performance, costing 117 at an economy of more than eight.

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