Ben Stokes Claims Six Scalps in English Test Series Preparation Match

Tour game, Lilac Hill (first day of 3)

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

National team: yet to bat

Ben Stokes produced six wickets in his first action since July but the tourists encountered an injury concern about fast bowler Wood on the opening day of their Test preparation against the development squad in Perth.

Stokes, returning after almost four months away with a shoulder injury, bowled sixteen overs across three bowling spells for his six for fifty-two versus England Lions – all to catches on the leg side.

Fast bowler Wood, himself returning after nine months out with a knee problem, delivered a pre-planned number of eight overs before exiting the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring problem. He will receive scanning 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 uncontested toss at the venue.

England wanted to bowl first to build bowling fitness before the initial Test match at the main venue, starting on November 21st.

In a potential indication towards their first-Test plans, the visiting team fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialists plus Stokes – and left spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in the Lions.

Bethell failed to press his claim for selection in the Test side, making just two runs, but Jacks boosted his credentials to be called upon later in the tour by hitting 84.

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

England's plan to play a solitary practice match against the Lions has been criticized by some former players but Stokes responded by calling the doubters "past players".

A low-pressure first day in front of a smattering of fans at the ground was certainly a different experience from what the team will encounter at a sold-out main stadium next week.

The captain was excellent in the contest against the Indian team in the domestic season, only to strain himself to injury. He was absent from the final Test with a shoulder tear.

The captain has not completed a full part in any of the team's past four tours because of different fitness issues and the tourists' hopes of regaining the Ashes are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five matches in the host country.

He has been bowling at full pace for 60 days and appeared in good condition on Wednesday, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his dismissals were gifted.

Jacks is unlikely to play in the opening match – England look to have shown their intentions with the eleven named here. Still, he may have moved himself in front of the struggling Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at almost a run a ball.

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

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

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

In the absence of Shoaib Bashir and with Mark Wood departing, Root was required to deliver 14 overs of his spin bowling. It was average performance, conceding 117 runs at an run rate of over eight.

Joe Root at least claimed a wicket in the closing stages when Fisher somehow hit a full delivery to mid-on before Jofra Archer bounced out Matthew Potts for fifty-three with the last delivery of the day.