Stokes Claims 6 Wickets in England Test Series Preparation Match

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

Ben Stokes produced six wickets in his initial appearance following July but England faced an injury concern regarding fast bowler Wood on the opening day of their Test preparation against England Lions in Western Australia.

The England captain, making his comeback after nearly four months away with a shoulder problem, bowled sixteen overs across three spells for his 6-52 against the Lions – each to catches taken on the on-side.

Fast bowler Mark Wood, also making his comeback after 9 months out with a knee injury, delivered a pre-planned number of 8 overs before exiting the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring problem. He will receive scanning on Friday.

Wood's injury sucked the energy out of the day, as the Lions were bowled out for three hundred eighty-two on a sluggish pitch after an automatic toss at Lilac Hill.

England aimed to bowl first to accumulate bowling time before the initial Test match at Optus Stadium, beginning on 21 November.

In a potential indication towards their first-Test plans, the tourists selected an all-pace attack – four specialist bowlers plus Stokes – and omitted off-spinner Bashir in the Lions.

Bethell failed to press his claim for inclusion in the Test side, making only two, but Will Jacks boosted his claim to be called upon later in the tour by hitting eighty-four.

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

England's decision to play a solitary practice match against the Lions has been questioned by some ex-players but the captain hit back by labeling the doubters "past players".

A relaxed first day in front of a smattering of spectators at the ground was certainly a different experience from what the team will encounter at a sold-out Optus Stadium next week.

Stokes was superb in the series against India in the home summer, only to strain himself to breaking point. He missed the final Test with a torn shoulder.

The captain has not completed a complete participation in any of England's past four series because of different fitness issues and the tourists' chances of winning back the series are vastly diminished if he misses any of the five Tests in Australia.

He has been practicing at maximum speed for 60 days and looked in good condition on the match day, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his wickets were gifted.

Will Jacks is unlikely to play in the first Test – England look to have revealed their intentions with the XI named here. Nevertheless, he may have moved himself in front of the struggling Jacob Bethell with his 84, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

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

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

Though Stokes took the scalps, Jofra Archer caught the eye. He was energetic with the new ball and again after the interval, when he discomforted Will Jacks.

In the omission of Shoaib 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 run rate of over eight.

Root at least took a wicket in the final session when Fisher somehow struck a full toss to mid-on before Jofra Archer bounced out Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.