Stokes Takes 6 Scalps in England Test Series Warm-up

Tour game, Lilac Hill (first day of 3)

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

England XI: awaiting batting

The England captain achieved 6 scalps in his first action following July but England encountered an injury concern regarding fast bowler Wood on the first day of their Test preparation versus the development squad in Western Australia.

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

Pace bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after 9 months out with a knee injury, bowled a pre-planned number of 8 overs before departing the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring problem. He will undergo scanning on the following day.

The Wood situation drained the energy out of the day, as the Lions were dismissed for three hundred eighty-two on a sluggish pitch after an automatic toss at Lilac Hill.

The tourists aimed to field first to accumulate bowling time before the initial Test match at Optus Stadium, beginning on 21 November.

In a potential indication towards their first-Test plans, the visiting team fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialists plus Stokes – and omitted spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in the development squad.

Jacob Bethell failed to press his claim for inclusion in the Test team, making only two, but Will Jacks enhanced his claim to be selected later in the tour by hitting 84.

Ben McKinney, Cox, 17-year-old Thomas Rew and Matthew Potts also scored half-centuries.

England's decision to play a single practice match against the development squad has been questioned by some former players but the captain responded by calling the critics "has-beens".

A relaxed opening day in front of a smattering of spectators at Lilac Hill was definitely a different experience from what the team will face at a sold-out Optus Stadium next week.

Stokes was superb in the series against India in the domestic season, only to strain himself to breaking point. He missed the final Test with a torn shoulder.

The captain has not completed a complete participation in any of England's previous four series because of various injuries and the team's hopes of regaining the Ashes are significantly reduced if he is absent from any of the five matches in Australia.

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

Jacks is not expected to play in the first Test – the team look to have revealed their hand with the XI selected here. Nevertheless, he may have moved himself in front of the out-of-sorts 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 initial match.

Brydon Carse was absent from the first day because of sickness, with his place going to Tongue. Josh Tongue had Lions opener McKinney caught behind 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 Bashir and with Mark Wood departing, Joe Root was required to deliver 14 overs of his off-spin. It was average performance, costing 117 runs at an run rate of over eight.

Root at least took a scalp in the closing stages when Matt Fisher unexpectedly hit a full toss to mid-on before Archer dismissed with a bouncer Matthew Potts for fifty-three with the final ball of the day.