Stokes Secures Six Wickets in English Test Series Preparation Match

Tour game, Lilac Hill (first day of 3)

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

National team: awaiting batting

Ben Stokes achieved six wickets in his return to play since July but the tourists encountered an injury concern involving fast bowler Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up versus England Lions in Perth.

Stokes, making his comeback after nearly four months out with a shoulder injury, delivered sixteen overs across three bowling spells for his six for fifty-two against the Lions – all to catches on the leg side.

Pace bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after nine months out with a knee problem, delivered a pre-planned number of 8 overs before departing the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring issue. He will have a scan on the following day.

The Wood situation sucked the intensity out of the day, as the Lions were bowled out for 382 on a sluggish pitch after an uncontested toss at the venue.

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

In a potential indication towards their opening Test strategy, the visiting team fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialists plus Stokes – and omitted spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in the Lions.

Jacob Bethell failed to press his claim for inclusion in the Test team, making only two, but Jacks enhanced his credentials to be called upon later in the tour by swiping eighty-four.

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

England's plan to play a solitary warm-up game against the development squad has been questioned by some former players but the captain hit back by calling the doubters "past players".

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

The captain was excellent in the contest against the Indian team in the home summer, only to push himself to injury. He missed the last match with a shoulder tear.

The skipper has not completed a full part in any of the team's previous four tours because of various injuries and the tourists' chances of winning back the series are significantly reduced if he is absent from any of the five matches in Australia.

He has been practicing at maximum speed for two months and appeared in fine shape on the match day, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his wickets were gifted.

Will Jacks is unlikely to feature in the opening match – England look to have revealed their intentions with the XI named here. Still, he may have moved himself in front of the struggling 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 England XI for this match may not have been the attack for the first Test.

Carse missed the first day because of illness, with his place going to Josh Tongue. Tongue had Lions opener Ben McKinney caught behind just after lunch.

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

In the omission of Shoaib Bashir and with Mark Wood departing, Joe Root was required to bowl fourteen overs of his spin bowling. It was mediocre fare, conceding 117 at an run rate of more than eight.

Root at least took a scalp in the final session when Matt Fisher somehow hit a full delivery to the fielder before Jofra Archer bounced out Matthew Potts for fifty-three with the last delivery of the day.