Ben Stokes Claims Six Wickets in England Test Series Warm-up

Tour match, Lilac Hill (first day of three)

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

National team: awaiting batting

The England captain delivered six wickets in his return to play since July but England faced an fitness worry regarding fast bowler Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up versus the development squad in Perth.

Stokes, returning after almost four months out with a shoulder problem, delivered sixteen overs across three bowling spells for his 6-52 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 scheduled amount of eight overs before exiting the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring problem. He will undergo scanning on Friday.

The Wood situation 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 Lilac Hill.

England wanted to field first to accumulate bowling time before the first Ashes Test at Optus Stadium, beginning on November 21st.

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

Bethell failed to press his claim for selection in the Test team, making just two runs, but Will Jacks boosted his credentials to be selected later in the tour by scoring eighty-four.

Ben McKinney, Cox, teenage Thomas Rew and Potts also made fifties.

The team's decision to play a solitary practice match against the Lions has been criticized by some ex-players but Stokes responded by labeling the critics "former players".

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

Stokes was superb in the series against India in the domestic season, only to strain himself to breaking point. He missed the last match with a torn shoulder.

The skipper has not completed a full part in any of England's past four series because of various injuries and the tourists' chances of winning back the series are significantly reduced 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 first Test – the team look to have shown their hand with the XI named here. Still, he may have moved himself ahead of the struggling Bethell with his 84, which came at almost a run a ball.

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

Carse missed the first day because of sickness, with his place going to Tongue. Tongue had opening batsman McKinney edging to the keeper just after the break.

Although the captain took the scalps, Jofra Archer impressed observers. He was lively with the fresh ball and once more after the interval, when he discomforted Will Jacks.

In the absence of Bashir and with Wood departing, Root was asked to deliver fourteen overs of his off-spin. It was mediocre fare, conceding 117 at an economy of more than eight.

Joe Root at least claimed a scalp in the final session when Matt Fisher unexpectedly hit a full delivery to mid-on before Archer dismissed with a bouncer Matthew Potts for 53 with the final ball of the day.