Ben Stokes Takes 6 Scalps in English Test Series Preparation Match

Tour game, Perth venue (first day of 3)

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

National team: awaiting batting

Ben Stokes achieved 6 scalps in his initial appearance following July but the tourists encountered an fitness worry regarding fast bowler Wood on the opening day of their Test preparation against England Lions in Western Australia.

Stokes, returning after approximately four months away with a shoulder injury, delivered sixteen overs across three bowling spells for his 6-52 versus the Lions – all to catches on the on-side.

Pace bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after 9 months away with a knee injury, delivered a pre-planned number of eight overs before leaving the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring issue. He will receive scanning on Friday.

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

England wanted to field first to build bowling fitness before the first Ashes Test at Optus Stadium, starting on 21 November.

In a potential indication towards their opening Test strategy, the tourists selected an all-pace attack – four specialists plus Stokes – and left spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in the development squad.

Bethell didn't strengthen his case for inclusion in the Test side, making only two, but Will Jacks boosted his claim to be selected later in the tour by hitting 84.

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

England's decision to play a solitary warm-up game against the development squad has been criticized by some former players but the captain responded by labeling the doubters "past players".

A relaxed opening day in front of a small crowd of fans at Lilac Hill was certainly a world away from what England will face at a packed Optus Stadium the following week.

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

The skipper has not managed a full part in any of England's previous four tours because of various injuries and the tourists' chances of winning back the series are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five matches in the host country.

He has been bowling at full pace for two months and appeared in fine shape on Wednesday, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his dismissals were presented.

Jacks is not expected to play in the opening match – the team look to have shown their intentions with the XI selected here. Still, he may have moved himself ahead of the struggling Bethell with his 84, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

Even before the concern over Mark Wood, the five seamers in the England XI for this game may not have been the attack for the initial match.

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

Though Stokes took the scalps, Jofra Archer impressed observers. He was lively with the fresh ball and again after lunch, when he caused problems for Will Jacks.

In the absence of Bashir and with Mark Wood leaving the field, Root was required to deliver fourteen overs of his spin bowling. It was average performance, conceding 117 at an economy of over eight.

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