Stokes Claims 6 Scalps in England Test Series Warm-up

Practice game, Lilac Hill (day one of 3)

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

National team: yet to bat

The England captain produced 6 scalps in his first action after July but the tourists encountered an injury concern about Mark Wood on the opening day of their Test preparation versus England Lions in Perth.

The England captain, returning after approximately four months out with a shoulder problem, delivered 16 overs across three spells for his 6-52 versus the Lions – all to catches taken on the on-side.

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

The Wood situation drained the intensity out of the day, as the Lions were dismissed for three hundred eighty-two on a sluggish pitch after an uncontested toss at Lilac Hill.

The tourists aimed to bowl first to get overs in their legs before the initial Test match at the main venue, beginning on 21 November.

In a potential indication towards their opening Test strategy, the tourists selected an all-pace attack – four specialists plus the captain – and left spin bowler Bashir in the Lions.

Jacob Bethell failed to press his claim for inclusion in the Test team, making just two runs, but Will Jacks boosted his credentials to be selected during the series by hitting eighty-four.

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

The team's plan to play a single practice match against the Lions has been questioned by some former players but Stokes hit back by labeling the critics "has-beens".

A low-pressure 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 main stadium next week.

The captain was superb in the contest against the Indian team in the domestic season, only to strain himself to injury. He was absent from the final Test with a torn shoulder.

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

He has been bowling at full pace for two months and appeared in fine shape on Wednesday, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his dismissals were gifted.

Will Jacks is not expected to play in the opening match – the team look to have revealed their hand with the XI named here. Still, he may have nudged himself in front of the struggling Jacob Bethell with his 84, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

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

Brydon 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 impressed observers. He was lively with the new ball and again after the interval, when he discomforted Will Jacks.

In the absence of Bashir and with Wood leaving the field, Joe Root was required to deliver fourteen overs of his off-spin. It was average performance, costing 117 at an economy of over eight.

Root at least took a scalp in the closing stages when Fisher somehow hit a full toss to mid-on before Archer bounced out Matthew Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.