Stokes Takes 6 Scalps in English Test Series Preparation Match

Practice game, Perth venue (first day of three)

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

National team: still to bat

Ben Stokes delivered 6 scalps in his return to play following July but England encountered an injury concern involving Mark Wood on the opening day of their Test preparation versus England Lions in Western Australia.

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

Fast bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after nine months out with a knee injury, bowled a scheduled amount of eight overs before leaving the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring problem. He will undergo scanning on the following day.

Wood's injury removed the energy out of the day, as the England Lions were bowled out for 382 on a sluggish pitch after an automatic toss at the venue.

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

In a potential indication towards their opening Test strategy, the tourists fielded an all-pace attack – four specialist bowlers plus the captain – and omitted off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in the development squad.

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

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

England's decision to play a solitary warm-up game against the development squad has been questioned by some former players but Stokes responded by labeling the critics "has-beens".

A low-pressure 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 sold-out Optus Stadium next week.

The captain 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 skipper has not managed a complete participation in any of England's previous four series because of different fitness issues and the team's chances of winning back the series are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five Tests in Australia.

He has been bowling at maximum speed for two months and looked in good condition on Wednesday, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his dismissals were gifted.

Jacks is unlikely to feature in the first Test – England look to have shown their intentions with the XI named here. Nevertheless, he may have nudged himself ahead of the out-of-sorts Bethell with his 84, which came at almost a run a ball.

Prior to the doubt over Wood, the five fast bowlers in the team lineup for this game may not have been the bowling unit for the initial match.

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

Although the captain took the wickets, Archer caught the eye. He was energetic with the new ball and again after the interval, when he caused problems for Jacks.

In the omission of Shoaib Bashir and with Wood leaving the field, Root was required to deliver fourteen overs of his spin bowling. It was average performance, costing 117 runs at an run rate of more than eight.

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