Ben Stokes Takes 6 Wickets in England Test Series Warm-up

Tour game, Lilac Hill (first day of three)

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

England XI: yet to bat

Ben Stokes achieved 6 scalps in his first action since July but England faced an fitness worry regarding fast bowler Wood on the opening day of their Test preparation versus the development squad in Western Australia.

The England captain, returning after nearly four months away with a shoulder problem, bowled sixteen overs across three bowling spells for his 6-52 versus the Lions – all to catches on the on-side.

Fast bowler Wood, also making his comeback after nine months away with a knee problem, bowled a scheduled amount of eight overs before leaving the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring problem. He will have a scan on the following day.

The Wood situation sucked the energy out of the day, as the England Lions were dismissed for three hundred eighty-two on a slow track after an automatic toss at the venue.

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

In a possible hint towards their first-Test plans, the tourists selected an all-pace attack – four specialist bowlers plus the captain – and left off-spinner Bashir in the Lions.

Jacob Bethell didn't strengthen his case for inclusion in the Test team, making only two, but Will Jacks boosted his claim to be selected later in the tour by hitting 84.

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

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

A low-pressure opening 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 Optus Stadium next week.

Stokes was excellent in the contest against the Indian team in the domestic season, only to strain himself to breaking point. He missed the last match with a shoulder tear.

The skipper has not completed a full part in any of the team's past four series because of various injuries and the tourists' chances of regaining the Ashes are vastly diminished if he misses any of the five matches in the host country.

He has been practicing at full pace for 60 days and appeared in fine shape on the match day, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his dismissals were gifted.

Will Jacks is not expected to feature in the opening match – England look to have shown their intentions with the XI selected here. Nevertheless, he may have nudged himself ahead of the struggling Jacob Bethell with his 84, which came at almost a run a ball.

Prior to the concern over Mark Wood, the five fast bowlers in the England XI for this match may not have been the bowling unit for the first Test.

Brydon Carse was absent from the opening day because of sickness, with his place going to Tongue. Josh Tongue had opening batsman McKinney caught behind just after the break.

Although Stokes took the wickets, Jofra Archer impressed observers. He was lively with the new ball and again after the interval, when he discomforted Jacks.

In the omission of Shoaib Bashir and with Wood departing, Joe Root was required to bowl 14 overs of his spin bowling. It was mediocre fare, conceding 117 runs at an run rate of more than eight.

Root at least claimed a scalp in the closing stages when Matt Fisher unexpectedly struck a full toss to mid-on before Jofra Archer dismissed with a bouncer Matthew Potts for fifty-three with the final ball of the day.