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

Practice match, Perth venue (day one of 3)

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

England XI: awaiting batting

The England captain delivered 6 scalps in his first action following July but England faced an injury concern about fast bowler Wood on the first day of their Test preparation versus England Lions in Perth.

Stokes, making his comeback after almost four months out with a shoulder injury, bowled 16 overs across three spells for his six for fifty-two versus the Lions – each to catches on the leg side.

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

Wood's injury removed 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 Lilac Hill.

England aimed to field first to get overs in their legs before the initial Test match at the main venue, beginning on November 21st.

In a potential indication towards their opening Test strategy, the visiting team selected an fast bowling lineup – four specialists plus the captain – and left off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in the Lions.

Jacob Bethell didn't strengthen his case for selection in the Test team, making just two runs, but Will Jacks boosted his claim to be called upon during the series by hitting eighty-four.

McKinney, Jordan Cox, 17-year-old Thomas Rew and Matthew Potts also scored fifties.

The team's decision to play a solitary warm-up game against the Lions has been criticized by some ex-players but Stokes responded by labeling the critics "past players".

A relaxed opening day in front of a small crowd of spectators at Lilac Hill was definitely a world away from what the team will encounter at a sold-out main stadium next week.

Stokes was superb in the series against India in the home summer, only to push himself to breaking point. He was absent from the last match with a shoulder tear.

The captain has not completed a complete participation in any of England's past four series because of different fitness issues and the team's hopes of regaining the Ashes are vastly diminished if he misses any of the five matches in Australia.

He has been practicing at full pace for 60 days and looked in good condition on Wednesday, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his wickets were gifted.

Will Jacks is not expected to feature in the opening match – the team look to have revealed their intentions with the XI selected here. Still, he may have moved himself ahead 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 England XI for this game may not have been the bowling unit for the initial match.

Brydon Carse missed the opening day because of sickness, with his place going to Josh Tongue. Josh Tongue had Lions opener McKinney caught behind just after lunch.

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

In the omission of Bashir and with Mark Wood departing, Joe Root was asked to bowl fourteen overs of his spin bowling. It was mediocre fare, conceding 117 at an economy of over eight.

Root at least claimed a wicket in the closing stages when Fisher unexpectedly struck a full delivery to the fielder before Jofra Archer dismissed with a bouncer Matthew Potts for fifty-three with the last delivery of the day.