Stokes Takes 6 Scalps in England Test Series Preparation Match

Tour match, Lilac Hill (first day of 3)

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

National team: still to bat

The England captain produced 6 scalps in his return to play following July but England faced an fitness worry regarding fast bowler Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up against England Lions in Western Australia.

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

Fast bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after 9 months out with a knee problem, delivered a scheduled amount of 8 overs before leaving the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring issue. He will have a scan on Friday.

Wood's injury removed the energy out of the day, as the Lions were dismissed for three hundred eighty-two on a slow, low surface after an automatic toss at the venue.

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

In a potential indication towards their first-Test plans, the visiting team fielded an all-pace attack – four specialists plus the captain – and left off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in the Lions.

Bethell didn't strengthen his claim for inclusion in the Test team, making only two, but Will Jacks boosted his credentials to be called upon during the series by hitting 84.

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

England's plan to play a solitary practice match against the development squad has been questioned by some former players but Stokes hit back by calling the critics "has-beens".

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

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

The skipper has not completed a full part in any of England's previous four series because of different fitness issues and the tourists' chances of regaining the series are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five Tests in the host country.

He has been practicing at maximum speed for 60 days and appeared in good condition on Wednesday, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his dismissals were gifted.

Will Jacks is unlikely to play in the opening match – England look to have revealed their hand with the eleven selected here. Nevertheless, he may have nudged himself in front of the struggling Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

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

Brydon Carse missed the opening day because of illness, with his position going to Tongue. Tongue had Lions opener McKinney edging to the keeper just after lunch.

Though Stokes took the scalps, Jofra Archer caught the eye. He was energetic with the fresh ball and once more after the interval, when he discomforted Jacks.

In the absence of Shoaib Bashir and with Wood leaving the field, Joe Root was required to deliver 14 overs of his off-spin. It was mediocre fare, conceding 117 runs at an run rate of over eight.

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