Stokes Secures 6 Wickets in England Test Series Warm-up

Tour game, Lilac Hill (first day of 3)

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

National team: yet to bat

Ben Stokes achieved six wickets in his first action after July but England faced an injury concern about Mark Wood on the first day of their Test preparation versus England Lions in Western Australia.

The England captain, making his comeback after approximately four months out with a shoulder injury, delivered sixteen overs across three bowling spells for his 6-52 against England Lions – all to catches taken on the leg side.

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

Wood's injury sucked the energy out of the day, as the Lions were bowled out for 382 on a slow track after an uncontested toss at Lilac Hill.

The tourists wanted to field first to build bowling fitness before the initial Test match at Optus Stadium, starting on November 21st.

In a possible hint towards their first-Test plans, the tourists selected an fast bowling lineup – four specialist bowlers plus the captain – and left off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in the development squad.

Bethell didn't strengthen his claim for inclusion in the Test team, making just two runs, but Jacks enhanced his claim to be called upon later in the tour by hitting 84.

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

The team's decision to play a solitary practice match against the Lions has been criticized by some former players but Stokes responded by labeling the critics "former players".

A low-pressure opening day in front of a small crowd of fans at Lilac Hill was certainly a different experience from what England will face at a packed main stadium the following week.

The captain was excellent in the series against India in the home summer, only to strain himself to breaking point. He missed the last match with a torn shoulder.

The captain has not managed a complete participation in any of the team's previous four tours because of various injuries and the tourists' chances of winning back the series are vastly diminished if he misses any of the five Tests in the host country.

He has been bowling at full pace for two months and looked in good condition on the match day, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his wickets were presented.

Jacks is unlikely to play in the opening match – England look to have shown their hand with the XI selected here. Still, he may have moved himself in front of the out-of-sorts Jacob Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at almost a run a ball.

Even before the concern over Wood, the five seamers in the team lineup for this game may not have been the bowling unit for the first Test.

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

Although the captain took the scalps, Jofra Archer impressed observers. He was energetic with the fresh ball and once more after the interval, when he caused problems for Jacks.

In the omission of Shoaib Bashir and with Mark Wood departing, Root was asked to deliver 14 overs of his off-spin. It was mediocre fare, conceding 117 at an economy of more than eight.

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