Stokes Secures 6 Scalps in English Test Series Preparation Match

Practice game, Lilac Hill (first day of 3)

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

England XI: still to bat

The England captain achieved 6 scalps in his initial appearance following July but England encountered an fitness worry about fast bowler Wood on the first day of their Test preparation against England Lions in Western Australia.

Stokes, returning after almost four months out with a shoulder problem, bowled 16 overs across three bowling spells for his six for fifty-two against England Lions – all to catches taken on the leg 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 afternoon session because of a hamstring issue. He will undergo scanning on the following day.

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

England wanted to field first to build bowling fitness before the initial Test match at the main venue, beginning on November 21st.

In a possible hint towards their opening Test strategy, the visiting team selected an all-pace attack – four specialists plus Stokes – and left off-spinner Bashir in the development squad.

Bethell failed to press his case for inclusion in the Test team, making just two runs, but Will Jacks enhanced his claim to be selected later in the tour by scoring eighty-four.

McKinney, Jordan Cox, teenage Rew and Potts also made fifties.

The team's decision to play a single warm-up game against the Lions has been questioned by some former players but Stokes responded by calling the doubters "past players".

A relaxed first 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 packed main stadium the following week.

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

The skipper has not managed a full part in any of the team's past four series because of various injuries and the team's chances of winning back the Ashes are significantly reduced if he is absent from any of the five Tests in Australia.

He has been bowling at maximum speed for 60 days and looked in good condition on Wednesday, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his wickets were gifted.

Will Jacks is not expected to play in the opening match – England look to have revealed their hand with the eleven selected here. Nevertheless, he may have moved himself in front of the struggling Jacob Bethell with his 84, which came at almost a run a ball.

Prior to the doubt over Wood, the five fast bowlers in the team lineup for this game may not have been the bowling unit for the initial match.

Brydon Carse was absent from the opening day because of illness, with his position going to Tongue. Tongue had opening batsman Ben McKinney caught behind just after lunch.

Though Stokes took the scalps, Jofra Archer impressed observers. He was lively with the new ball and again after the interval, when he discomforted Jacks.

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

Root at least took a wicket in the closing stages when Matt Fisher somehow hit a full toss to the fielder before Archer bounced out Matthew Potts for fifty-three with the final ball of the day.