Stokes Secures Six Wickets in English Test Series Preparation Match

Tour game, Lilac Hill (first day of 3)

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

England XI: yet to bat

Ben Stokes delivered 6 scalps in his return to play since July but the tourists encountered an fitness worry about fast bowler Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up versus England Lions in Perth.

The England captain, returning after approximately four months away with a shoulder problem, delivered 16 overs across three bowling spells for his six for fifty-two against England Lions – each to catches on the leg side.

Fast bowler Wood, himself returning after 9 months out with a knee injury, bowled a scheduled amount of 8 overs before exiting the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring issue. He will undergo scanning on the following day.

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

England wanted to field first to get overs in their legs before the initial Test match at Optus Stadium, starting on November 21st.

In a possible hint towards their opening Test strategy, the tourists selected an fast bowling lineup – four specialists plus Stokes – and left off-spinner Bashir in the Lions.

Jacob Bethell didn't strengthen his case for selection in the Test side, making only two, but Will Jacks boosted his credentials to be selected during the series by hitting 84.

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

The team's decision to play a single practice match against the Lions has been criticized by some former players but Stokes hit back by calling the critics "former 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 face at a packed Optus Stadium the following week.

Stokes was excellent in the series 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 captain has not completed a full part in any of the team's previous four tours because of different fitness issues and the team's hopes of regaining the Ashes are vastly diminished if he is absent from any of the five Tests in Australia.

He has been bowling at full pace for 60 days and appeared in good condition on Wednesday, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his wickets were presented.

Jacks is unlikely to play in the first Test – the team look to have shown their hand with the eleven named here. Nevertheless, he may have nudged himself in front of the out-of-sorts Jacob Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

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

Brydon Carse was absent from the first day because of illness, with his place going to Tongue. Josh Tongue had Lions opener McKinney edging to the keeper just after lunch.

Though the captain took the wickets, Archer caught the eye. He was lively with the new ball and once more after lunch, when he caused problems for Will Jacks.

In the absence of Bashir and with Mark Wood departing, Joe Root was asked to bowl fourteen overs of his off-spin. It was mediocre fare, costing 117 at an run rate of over eight.

Joe Root at least claimed a scalp in the final session when Matt Fisher somehow hit a full delivery to the fielder before Jofra Archer dismissed with a bouncer Potts for fifty-three with the final ball of the day.