Stokes Claims 6 Scalps in England Test Series Preparation Match

Practice game, Perth venue (day one of 3)

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

National team: yet to bat

The England captain produced six wickets in his return to play after July but England encountered an fitness worry about Mark Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up versus England Lions in Western Australia.

The England captain, making his comeback after almost four months away with a shoulder injury, delivered 16 overs across three bowling spells for his 6-52 against England Lions – each to catches taken on the on-side.

Pace bowler Wood, also making his comeback after 9 months away with a knee injury, delivered a scheduled amount of 8 overs before exiting the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring issue. He will have a scan on the following day.

Wood's injury drained the intensity out of the day, as the England Lions were bowled out for three hundred eighty-two on a slow track after an automatic toss at the venue.

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

In a potential indication towards their first-Test plans, the visiting team selected an fast bowling lineup – four specialist bowlers plus the captain – and omitted spin bowler Bashir in the development squad.

Jacob Bethell failed to press his case for selection in the Test team, making only two, but Jacks enhanced his credentials to be called upon later in the tour by hitting 84.

McKinney, Jordan Cox, teenage Thomas Rew and Potts also scored fifties.

England's decision to play a solitary practice match against the Lions has been criticized by some ex-players but Stokes responded by labeling the doubters "has-beens".

A low-pressure first day in front of a smattering of spectators at the ground was certainly a world away from what the team will encounter at a packed Optus Stadium next week.

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

The captain has not completed a full part in any of England's previous four series because of different fitness issues and the team's chances of regaining the Ashes are significantly reduced if he is absent from any of the five Tests in Australia.

He has been bowling at full pace for two months and looked 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 – England look to have shown their hand with the eleven named here. Nevertheless, he may have moved himself ahead 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 England XI for this game may not have been the bowling unit for the initial match.

Carse was absent from the first day because of sickness, with his place going to Josh Tongue. Tongue had opening batsman McKinney edging to the keeper just after the break.

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

In the omission of Shoaib Bashir and with Wood departing, Joe Root was asked to deliver 14 overs of his spin bowling. It was average performance, conceding 117 runs at an economy of more than eight.

Joe Root at least took a scalp in the final session when Fisher somehow struck a full delivery to the fielder before Jofra Archer bounced out Matthew Potts for 53 with the final ball of the day.