Stokes Claims 6 Wickets in English Test Series Warm-up

Tour game, Lilac Hill (first day of 3)

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

England XI: awaiting batting

Ben Stokes produced 6 scalps in his first action since July but England encountered an fitness worry involving Mark Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up versus England Lions in Western Australia.

The England captain, returning after approximately four months away with a shoulder problem, bowled sixteen overs across three bowling spells for his six for fifty-two versus England Lions – each to catches 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 problem. He will have a scan on Friday.

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

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

In a potential indication towards their opening Test strategy, the tourists selected an all-pace attack – four specialist bowlers plus the captain – and left spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in the development squad.

Bethell didn't strengthen his case for selection in the Test side, making only two, but Will Jacks enhanced his credentials to be called upon later in the tour by hitting eighty-four.

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

England's plan to play a solitary warm-up game against the development squad has been criticized by some ex-players but the captain responded by labeling the doubters "past players".

A relaxed first day in front of a small crowd of fans at the ground was certainly a world away from what England will face at a packed Optus Stadium next week.

Stokes was excellent in the contest against the Indian team in the domestic season, only to strain himself to injury. He missed the last match with a torn shoulder.

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

He has been bowling at full pace for 60 days and looked in good condition on the match day, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his dismissals were presented.

Will Jacks is unlikely to feature in the first Test – England look to have shown their hand with the eleven selected here. Nevertheless, he may have moved himself ahead of the struggling Bethell with his 84, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

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

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

Though the captain took the wickets, Archer caught the eye. He was lively with the fresh ball and again after lunch, when he discomforted Jacks.

In the omission of Shoaib Bashir and with Mark Wood departing, Root was required to deliver fourteen overs of his spin bowling. It was mediocre fare, conceding 117 runs at an economy of over eight.

Joe Root at least took a wicket in the closing stages when Matt Fisher unexpectedly struck a full delivery to the fielder before Archer dismissed with a bouncer Matthew Potts for fifty-three with the last delivery of the day.