Stokes Claims 6 Scalps in England Test Series Warm-up

Tour match, Lilac Hill (day one of three)

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

England XI: yet to bat

Ben Stokes delivered 6 scalps in his initial appearance following July but England faced an injury concern regarding fast bowler Wood on the opening day of their Test preparation versus England Lions in Perth.

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

Pace bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after nine months out with a knee injury, bowled a pre-planned number of eight overs before exiting the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring problem. He will undergo scanning on the following day.

The Wood situation sucked the energy out of the day, as the Lions were dismissed for 382 on a sluggish pitch after an automatic toss at Lilac Hill.

The tourists wanted to field first to get overs in their legs 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 Stokes – and omitted spin bowler Bashir in the Lions.

Bethell failed to press his case for selection in the Test side, making just two runs, but Jacks boosted his credentials to be selected during the series by hitting eighty-four.

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

The team's plan to play a solitary practice match against the Lions has been questioned by some former players but Stokes responded by calling the critics "former players".

A low-pressure first day in front of a small crowd of fans at Lilac Hill was certainly a different experience from what the team will face at a sold-out main stadium next week.

Stokes was excellent in the contest against the Indian team in the domestic season, only to push himself to breaking point. He was absent from the last match with a torn shoulder.

The captain has not completed a complete participation in any of England's previous four tours because of various injuries and the team's chances of winning back the Ashes are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five Tests in the host country.

He has been practicing at full pace for two months and appeared in good condition on the match day, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his dismissals were presented.

Jacks is unlikely to play in the opening match – England look to have revealed their intentions with the eleven selected here. Nevertheless, he may have nudged himself in front of the out-of-sorts Jacob Bethell with his 84, which came at almost a run a ball.

Even before the doubt over Mark Wood, the five seamers in the England XI for this match may not have been the bowling unit for the initial match.

Carse missed the opening day because of illness, with his place going to Josh Tongue. Tongue had Lions opener McKinney caught behind just after the break.

Though Stokes took the scalps, Jofra Archer caught the eye. He was energetic with the new ball and once more after lunch, when he discomforted Jacks.

In the absence of Bashir and with Wood leaving the field, Joe Root was required to bowl 14 overs of his off-spin. It was mediocre fare, costing 117 at an economy of over eight.

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