Ben Stokes Claims 6 Scalps in English Test Series Warm-up

Practice match, Perth venue (first day of three)

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

National team: yet to bat

The England captain achieved 6 scalps in his first action after July but England faced an injury concern about fast bowler Wood on the opening day of their Test preparation against the development squad in Western Australia.

Stokes, returning after nearly four months out with a shoulder problem, bowled sixteen overs across three bowling spells for his 6-52 against England Lions – all to catches on the on-side.

Pace bowler Wood, also making his comeback after nine months away with a knee problem, bowled a pre-planned number of eight overs before departing the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring issue. He will have a scan on Friday.

The Wood situation removed the intensity out of the day, as the England Lions were dismissed for 382 on a sluggish pitch after an uncontested toss at Lilac Hill.

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 opening Test strategy, the tourists selected an all-pace attack – four specialists plus Stokes – and left off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in the development squad.

Jacob Bethell didn't strengthen his claim for selection in the Test side, making only two, but Jacks boosted his credentials to be selected later in the tour by scoring eighty-four.

Ben McKinney, Cox, 17-year-old Rew and Matthew Potts also made fifties.

The team's decision to play a solitary practice match against the Lions has been criticized by some ex-players but the captain responded by calling the critics "past players".

A relaxed opening day in front of a small crowd of spectators at the ground was certainly a world away from what the team will encounter at a sold-out Optus Stadium the following week.

Stokes was superb in the series against India in the home summer, only to push himself to breaking point. He missed the final Test with a shoulder tear.

The captain has not completed a complete participation in any of England's past four series because of various injuries and the tourists' hopes of winning back the Ashes are significantly reduced if he is absent from any of the five matches in the host country.

He has been practicing 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 dismissals were gifted.

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

Even before the concern over Mark Wood, the five fast bowlers in the England XI for this game may not have been the bowling unit for the first Test.

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

Although Stokes took the scalps, Jofra Archer caught the eye. He was energetic with the fresh ball and once more after the interval, when he caused problems for Will Jacks.

In the omission of Bashir and with Mark Wood leaving the field, Root was required to bowl 14 overs of his spin bowling. It was average performance, conceding 117 runs at an run rate of more than eight.

Root at least claimed a wicket in the closing stages when Matt Fisher unexpectedly struck a full delivery to mid-on before Archer dismissed with a bouncer Matthew Potts for 53 with the final ball of the day.