Stokes Takes Six Wickets in English Test Series Preparation Match

Practice match, Perth venue (first day of three)

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

National team: awaiting batting

The England captain delivered six wickets in his return to play after July but the tourists encountered an fitness worry about Mark Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up versus England Lions in Western Australia.

Stokes, returning after nearly four months away with a shoulder problem, delivered sixteen overs across three spells for his 6-52 versus England Lions – each to catches on the on-side.

Pace bowler Wood, himself returning after nine months out with a knee problem, bowled a pre-planned number of eight overs before exiting the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring issue. He will undergo scanning on Friday.

Wood's injury removed the intensity out of the day, as the England Lions were dismissed for three hundred eighty-two on a slow, low surface after an uncontested toss at Lilac Hill.

England aimed to bowl first to get overs in their legs before the initial Test match at Optus Stadium, beginning on 21 November.

In a possible hint towards their first-Test plans, the tourists fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialists plus Stokes – and left spin bowler Bashir in the development squad.

Jacob Bethell didn't strengthen his claim for selection in the Test side, making just two runs, but Jacks enhanced his credentials to be called upon during the series by swiping 84.

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

The team's decision to play a solitary warm-up game against the Lions has been questioned by some former players but Stokes responded by labeling the doubters "past players".

A relaxed 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 next week.

The captain was superb in the series against the Indian team in the home summer, only to push himself to injury. He was absent from the final Test with a shoulder tear.

The captain has not managed a complete participation in any of the team's previous four tours because of different fitness issues and the team's chances of regaining the series are vastly diminished if he is absent from any of the five matches in the host country.

He has been practicing at maximum speed for two months and looked in good condition on Wednesday, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his dismissals were presented.

Jacks is unlikely to feature in the opening match – the team look to have revealed their hand with the eleven selected here. Still, he may have nudged himself ahead of the out-of-sorts Jacob Bethell with his 84, which came at almost a run a ball.

Even before the concern over Wood, the five fast bowlers in the England XI for this match may not have been the attack for the first Test.

Brydon Carse was absent from the first day because of illness, with his place going to Tongue. Tongue had opening batsman McKinney edging to the keeper just after lunch.

Though the captain took the scalps, Archer caught the eye. He was energetic with the fresh ball and again after the interval, when he discomforted Jacks.

In the omission of Shoaib Bashir and with Wood leaving the field, Joe Root was required to deliver fourteen overs of his off-spin. It was average performance, costing 117 at an economy of over eight.

Root at least claimed a wicket in the closing stages when Fisher somehow hit a full toss to mid-on before Archer dismissed with a bouncer Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.