Ben Stokes Claims Six Scalps in English Test Series Preparation Match

Tour game, Lilac Hill (first day of 3)

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

England XI: still to bat

Ben Stokes achieved six wickets in his first action following July but the tourists faced an fitness worry involving fast bowler Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up versus the development squad in Perth.

The England captain, making his comeback after approximately four months away with a shoulder injury, bowled 16 overs across three bowling spells for his six for fifty-two versus England Lions – all to catches on the on-side.

Pace bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after 9 months away with a knee problem, bowled a pre-planned number of eight overs before departing the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring problem. He will undergo scanning on Friday.

Wood's injury removed 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.

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

In a potential indication towards their first-Test plans, the tourists selected an fast bowling lineup – four specialists plus Stokes – and left spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in the Lions.

Bethell failed to press his case for selection in the Test side, making just two runs, but Jacks enhanced his claim to be selected during the series by swiping 84.

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

England's decision to play a solitary practice match against the Lions has been questioned by some former players but the captain hit back by calling the doubters "former players".

A relaxed opening day in front of a small crowd of spectators at Lilac Hill was definitely a world away from what England will encounter at a packed main stadium the following week.

The captain was superb in the contest against India in the home summer, only to strain himself to breaking point. He missed the final Test with a shoulder tear.

The skipper has not completed a full part in any of the team's previous four tours because of different fitness issues and the tourists' chances of winning back the series are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five matches in Australia.

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

Will Jacks is not expected to play in the opening match – England look to have shown their intentions with the eleven named here. Still, he may have nudged himself ahead of the struggling Bethell with his 84, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

Even before the doubt over Mark Wood, the five seamers in the England XI for this match may not have been the attack for the initial match.

Carse was absent from the opening day because of illness, with his place going to Josh Tongue. Tongue had Lions opener McKinney edging to the keeper just after the break.

Although the captain took the scalps, Jofra Archer caught the eye. He was lively with the new ball and once more after lunch, when he caused problems for Jacks.

In the absence of Bashir and with Wood departing, Joe Root was asked to bowl 14 overs of his off-spin. It was average performance, conceding 117 runs at an run rate of more than eight.

Root at least took a wicket in the final session when Matt Fisher unexpectedly struck a full toss to mid-on before Archer dismissed with a bouncer Potts for 53 with the final ball of the day.