Stokes Claims 6 Wickets in England Test Series Warm-up

Practice game, Lilac Hill (day one of three)

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

National team: yet to bat

The England captain produced 6 scalps in his first action following July but the tourists faced an fitness worry about Mark Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up against England Lions in Perth.

The England captain, returning after nearly four months out with a shoulder injury, bowled 16 overs across three bowling spells for his 6-52 against the Lions – each to catches taken on the on-side.

Fast bowler Wood, also making his comeback after 9 months out with a knee injury, bowled a pre-planned number of 8 overs before leaving the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring issue. He will undergo scanning on the following day.

Wood's injury sucked 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 the venue.

The tourists aimed to field first to build bowling fitness before the initial Test match at the main venue, beginning on November 21st.

In a possible hint towards their first-Test plans, the visiting team fielded an all-pace attack – four specialist bowlers plus Stokes – and left spin bowler Bashir in the development squad.

Bethell failed to press his claim for inclusion in the Test side, making only two, but Will Jacks boosted his credentials to be called upon later in the tour by scoring eighty-four.

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

England's decision to play a single warm-up game against the Lions has been questioned by some former players but the captain hit back by labeling the doubters "former players".

A relaxed first day in front of a smattering of spectators at the ground was definitely a world away from what the team will encounter at a sold-out main stadium next week.

Stokes was superb in the contest against the Indian team in the domestic season, only to push himself to injury. He was absent from 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 tourists' hopes of winning back the series are vastly diminished if he is absent from any of the five Tests in the host country.

He has been bowling at maximum speed for two months and appeared in fine shape on the match day, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his dismissals were presented.

Jacks is unlikely to feature in the first Test – England look to have revealed their hand with the eleven named here. Still, he may have nudged himself in front of the struggling Jacob Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at almost a run a ball.

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

Brydon Carse was absent from the first day because of sickness, with his position going to Josh Tongue. Tongue had opening batsman McKinney edging to the keeper just after the break.

Though Stokes took the wickets, Archer caught the eye. He was energetic with the new ball and once more after the interval, when he caused problems for Jacks.

In the absence of Shoaib Bashir and with Mark Wood leaving the field, Root was asked to deliver 14 overs of his spin bowling. It was mediocre fare, conceding 117 at an economy of more than eight.

Root at least took a scalp in the final session when Matt Fisher somehow struck a full toss to the fielder before Archer dismissed with a bouncer Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.