Ben Stokes Takes Six Scalps in England Test Series Preparation Match

Tour match, Lilac Hill (first day of 3)

England Lions 382: Jacks 84, McKinney 67; Ben Stokes 6-52

England XI: awaiting batting

The England captain produced 6 scalps in his initial appearance after July but England faced an injury concern about fast bowler Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up versus England Lions in Western Australia.

Stokes, returning after approximately four months out with a shoulder injury, bowled sixteen overs across three spells for his six for fifty-two versus England Lions – all to catches taken on the on-side.

Fast bowler Wood, himself returning after nine months out with a knee injury, bowled a scheduled amount of 8 overs before leaving the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring issue. He will receive scanning on Friday.

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

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

In a possible hint towards their first-Test plans, the visiting team fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialists plus the captain – and left spin bowler Bashir in the Lions.

Jacob Bethell didn't strengthen his case for selection in the Test team, making only two, but Will Jacks boosted his claim to be called upon during the series by swiping eighty-four.

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

England's plan to play a single practice match against the development squad has been questioned by some ex-players but the captain responded by labeling the critics "former players".

A low-pressure opening day in front of a smattering of spectators at the ground was definitely a different experience from what the team will encounter at a sold-out main stadium the following week.

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

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

He has been bowling at maximum speed for 60 days and appeared in fine shape on Wednesday, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his wickets were presented.

Jacks is unlikely to feature in the opening match – the team look to have shown their hand with the XI named here. Still, he may have moved himself in front of the out-of-sorts Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

Even before the doubt over Mark Wood, the five seamers in the England XI for this game may not have been the attack for the first Test.

Brydon Carse missed the first day because of sickness, with his place going to Josh Tongue. Tongue had opening batsman McKinney caught behind just after lunch.

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

In the omission of Bashir and with Wood leaving the field, Joe Root was asked to deliver fourteen overs of his spin bowling. It was mediocre fare, conceding 117 runs at an economy of over eight.

Root at least claimed a wicket in the final session when Matt Fisher unexpectedly struck a full delivery to the fielder before Archer bounced out Matthew Potts for fifty-three with the final ball of the day.