Stokes Takes Six Wickets in English Test Series Warm-up

Tour match, Lilac Hill (day one of three)

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

England XI: still to bat

The England captain produced 6 scalps in his return to play since July but England faced an fitness worry about fast bowler Wood on the opening day of their Test preparation against the development squad in Perth.

Stokes, returning after approximately four months out with a shoulder problem, bowled 16 overs across three bowling spells for his six for fifty-two versus England Lions – all to catches on the leg side.

Fast bowler Wood, also making his comeback after 9 months away with a knee injury, delivered a scheduled amount of eight overs before leaving the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring issue. He will receive scanning on Friday.

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

England wanted to bowl first to get overs in their legs before the first Ashes Test at Optus Stadium, starting on 21 November.

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

Jacob Bethell failed to press his case for inclusion in the Test team, making only two, but Will Jacks enhanced his credentials to be called upon during the series by swiping eighty-four.

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

England's decision to play a single practice match against the Lions has been criticized by some former players but Stokes responded by labeling the critics "former players".

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

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

The captain has not managed a complete participation in any of England's past four tours because of different fitness issues and the tourists' chances of regaining the Ashes are vastly diminished if he misses any of the five Tests in the host country.

He has been bowling at full pace for 60 days and looked in fine shape on Wednesday, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his dismissals were gifted.

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 nudged himself in front of the struggling Jacob Bethell with his 84, which came at almost a run a ball.

Prior to the doubt over Wood, the five fast bowlers in the team lineup for this game may not have been the bowling unit for the initial match.

Carse was absent from the opening day because of sickness, with his position going to Josh Tongue. Tongue had opening batsman Ben McKinney caught behind just after lunch.

Though Stokes took the wickets, Jofra Archer impressed observers. He was lively with the fresh ball and again after lunch, when he discomforted Jacks.

In the absence of Shoaib Bashir and with Wood departing, Root was required to bowl fourteen overs of his spin bowling. It was average performance, costing 117 runs at an run rate of more than eight.

Root at least took a wicket in the final session when Matt Fisher unexpectedly hit a full toss to mid-on before Archer bounced out Potts for fifty-three with the final ball of the day.