Ben Stokes Secures 6 Scalps in English Test Series Warm-up

Practice game, Perth venue (first day of 3)

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

National team: yet to bat

Ben Stokes produced six wickets in his initial appearance after July but England encountered an fitness worry involving Mark Wood on the opening day of their Test preparation versus the development squad in Perth.

The England captain, making his comeback after approximately four months away with a shoulder injury, bowled sixteen overs across three spells for his 6-52 versus the Lions – each to catches taken on the on-side.

Pace bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after nine months away with a knee problem, bowled a scheduled amount of eight overs before departing the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring issue. He will receive scanning on the following day.

Wood's injury sucked the intensity out of the day, as the England Lions were bowled out for 382 on a slow track after an automatic toss at the venue.

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

In a potential indication towards their opening Test strategy, the tourists selected an all-pace attack – four specialists plus Stokes – and omitted off-spinner Bashir in the development squad.

Bethell didn't strengthen his claim for selection in the Test team, making only two, but Will Jacks boosted his credentials to be selected later in the tour by swiping eighty-four.

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

England's decision to play a single practice match against the Lions has been criticized by some former players but the captain hit back by labeling the critics "has-beens".

A low-pressure opening day in front of a smattering of spectators at Lilac Hill was certainly a different experience from what the team will encounter at a packed main stadium next week.

Stokes was excellent in the contest against the Indian team in the home summer, only to push himself to injury. He missed the final Test with a shoulder tear.

The skipper has not completed a full part in any of England's past four tours because of various injuries and the team's hopes of regaining the Ashes are vastly diminished if he is absent from any of the five Tests in Australia.

He has been bowling at full pace for two months 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 feature in the first Test – the team look to have shown their intentions with the eleven selected here. Nevertheless, he may have nudged himself in front of the struggling Jacob Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at almost a run a ball.

Prior to the concern over Wood, the five fast bowlers in the England XI for this game may not have been the attack for the initial match.

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

Though the captain took the wickets, Jofra Archer caught the eye. He was lively with the fresh ball and once more after the interval, when he discomforted Will Jacks.

In the omission of Bashir and with Wood departing, Root was required to deliver fourteen overs of his spin bowling. It was average performance, conceding 117 runs at an economy of over eight.

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