Ben Stokes Takes 6 Wickets in England Test Series Preparation Match

Tour match, Lilac Hill (first day of 3)

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

National team: still to bat

Ben Stokes achieved 6 scalps in his initial appearance after July but England encountered an fitness worry involving fast bowler Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up against the development squad in Perth.

Stokes, making his comeback after nearly four months away with a shoulder injury, bowled 16 overs across three spells for his six for fifty-two versus England Lions – all to catches taken on the on-side.

Pace bowler Mark Wood, also making his comeback after 9 months away with a knee problem, bowled a pre-planned number of 8 overs before leaving the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring problem. He will undergo scanning on Friday.

Wood's injury drained the energy out of the day, as the England Lions were bowled out for three hundred eighty-two on a slow, low surface after an uncontested toss at Lilac Hill.

The tourists aimed to field first to accumulate bowling time before the initial Test match at the main venue, beginning on November 21st.

In a possible hint towards their first-Test plans, the tourists fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialists plus Stokes – and omitted spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in the development squad.

Bethell failed to press his case for selection in the Test team, making just two runs, but Jacks boosted his credentials to be called upon during the series by hitting 84.

Ben McKinney, Jordan Cox, teenage Thomas 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 Stokes responded by labeling the critics "has-beens".

A low-pressure first day in front of a small crowd of spectators at the ground was certainly a world away from what the team will face at a packed Optus Stadium the following week.

Stokes was excellent in the contest against the Indian team in the domestic season, only to push himself to breaking point. He was absent from the last match with a shoulder tear.

The skipper has not completed a full part in any of the team's past four tours because of different fitness issues and the tourists' hopes of regaining the series are significantly reduced if he is absent from any of the five matches in the host country.

He has been bowling at full pace for 60 days and appeared in fine shape on Wednesday, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his dismissals were gifted.

Will Jacks is not expected to feature in the opening match – the team look to have shown their hand with the XI selected here. Nevertheless, he may have moved himself ahead of the out-of-sorts Jacob Bethell with his 84, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

Even before the concern over Mark Wood, the five fast bowlers in the team lineup for this match may not have been the attack for the initial match.

Brydon Carse missed the first day because of sickness, with his position going to Tongue. Tongue had Lions opener McKinney caught behind just after the break.

Although Stokes took the wickets, Archer caught the eye. He was energetic with the fresh ball and again after lunch, when he caused problems for Will Jacks.

In the absence of Shoaib Bashir and with Wood leaving the field, Joe Root was asked to deliver fourteen overs of his off-spin. It was average performance, costing 117 runs at an run rate of more than eight.

Joe Root at least claimed a scalp in the closing stages when Matt Fisher somehow struck a full toss to the fielder before Jofra Archer bounced out Matthew Potts for fifty-three with the final ball of the day.