Stokes Claims 6 Wickets in English Test Series Preparation Match

Practice match, Perth venue (day one of three)

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

National team: yet to bat

Ben Stokes produced 6 scalps in his initial appearance since July but England faced an injury concern about Mark Wood on the first day of their Test preparation versus England Lions in Western Australia.

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

Fast bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after nine months away with a knee problem, bowled a scheduled amount of 8 overs before departing the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring problem. He will receive scanning on Friday.

The Wood situation drained the intensity out of the day, as the England Lions were dismissed for 382 on a slow track after an automatic toss at the venue.

The tourists aimed to bowl first to build bowling fitness before the initial Test match at Optus Stadium, starting on 21 November.

In a possible hint towards their opening Test strategy, the visiting team selected an fast bowling lineup – four specialist bowlers plus the captain – and left off-spinner Bashir in the development squad.

Jacob Bethell failed to press his case for inclusion in the Test side, making only two, but Jacks enhanced his claim to be called upon during the series by swiping eighty-four.

Ben McKinney, Cox, teenage Rew and Matthew Potts also made half-centuries.

England's decision to play a solitary practice match against the development squad has been criticized by some former players but the captain responded by calling the critics "has-beens".

A low-pressure first day in front of a small crowd of fans at Lilac Hill was certainly a world away from what the team will face at a packed Optus Stadium next week.

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

The skipper has not completed a full part in any of the team's previous four tours because of various injuries and the tourists' chances of winning back the series are vastly diminished 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 looked 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 first Test – England look to have shown their hand with the XI selected here. Nevertheless, he may have moved himself in front of the out-of-sorts Bethell with his 84, which came at almost a run a ball.

Even before the concern over Mark Wood, the five fast bowlers in the team lineup for this game may not have been the attack for the first Test.

Carse was absent from the opening day because of illness, with his position going to Tongue. Tongue had Lions opener McKinney caught behind just after the break.

Although the captain took the wickets, Jofra Archer caught the eye. He was energetic with the new ball and again after the interval, when he caused problems for Will Jacks.

In the absence of Bashir and with Wood departing, Root was required to bowl 14 overs of his off-spin. It was average performance, costing 117 runs at an run rate of over eight.

Joe Root at least claimed a wicket in the closing stages when Matt Fisher unexpectedly hit a full toss to the fielder before Jofra Archer dismissed with a bouncer Matthew Potts for fifty-three with the last delivery of the day.