Stokes Claims Six Scalps in England Test Series Warm-up

Practice match, Lilac Hill (day one of 3)

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

England XI: still to bat

Ben Stokes produced 6 scalps in his return to play since July but the tourists faced an injury concern regarding fast bowler Wood on the opening day of their Test preparation versus the development squad in Perth.

Stokes, making his comeback after almost four months away with a shoulder injury, bowled sixteen overs across three bowling spells for his 6-52 versus England Lions – each to catches on the on-side.

Fast bowler Wood, himself returning after nine months away with a knee problem, delivered a scheduled amount of eight overs before departing the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring issue. He will have a scan on Friday.

The Wood situation drained the energy out of the day, as the England Lions were dismissed for 382 on a slow track after an automatic toss at the venue.

The tourists 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 tourists fielded an all-pace attack – four specialist bowlers plus the captain – and omitted off-spinner Bashir in the Lions.

Bethell didn't strengthen his case for inclusion in the Test team, making just two runs, but Jacks boosted his credentials to be selected later in the tour by scoring eighty-four.

McKinney, Jordan Cox, 17-year-old Rew and Potts also made half-centuries.

England's decision to play a single practice match against the Lions has been criticized by some former players but the captain hit back by calling the critics "has-beens".

A low-pressure opening day in front of a smattering of fans at Lilac Hill was definitely a different experience from what the team will face at a sold-out main stadium next week.

The captain was superb in the series against India in the home summer, only to strain himself to injury. He was absent from the last match with a torn shoulder.

The captain has not managed a complete participation in any of England's previous four tours because of different fitness issues and the team's chances of winning back the Ashes are significantly reduced if he is absent from any of the five Tests in the host country.

He has been bowling 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 play in the first Test – the team look to have shown their intentions with the eleven named here. Still, he may have nudged himself ahead of the out-of-sorts Jacob Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at almost a run a ball.

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

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

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

In the omission of Bashir and with Mark Wood leaving the field, Root was asked to deliver fourteen overs of his off-spin. It was mediocre fare, conceding 117 at an economy of more than eight.

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