Ben Stokes Takes Six Scalps in England Test Series Warm-up

Practice game, Lilac Hill (first day of three)

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

England XI: yet to bat

The England captain produced 6 scalps in his initial appearance since July but England encountered an injury concern about Mark Wood on the first day of their Test preparation against England Lions in Western Australia.

Stokes, returning after nearly four months out with a shoulder injury, delivered 16 overs across three bowling spells for his 6-52 versus the Lions – all to catches taken on the on-side.

Pace bowler Mark Wood, also making his comeback after nine months out with a knee injury, delivered a scheduled amount of 8 overs before exiting the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring issue. He will receive scanning on the following day.

Wood's injury drained the intensity out of the day, as the England Lions were bowled out for three hundred eighty-two on a slow track after an uncontested toss at the venue.

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

In a possible hint towards their first-Test plans, the tourists selected an all-pace attack – four specialist bowlers plus Stokes – and omitted spin bowler Bashir in the Lions.

Bethell didn't strengthen his claim for inclusion in the Test side, making just two runs, but Jacks enhanced his claim to be called upon during the series by scoring eighty-four.

McKinney, Jordan Cox, teenage Rew and Potts also scored half-centuries.

England's plan to play a solitary practice match against the Lions has been questioned by some ex-players but the captain hit back by calling the doubters "past players".

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

Stokes was superb in the series against the Indian team in the domestic season, only to strain himself to breaking point. He missed the last match with a shoulder tear.

The skipper has not completed a complete participation in any of the team's past four tours because of various injuries and the team's hopes of winning back the series are vastly diminished if he is absent from any of the five Tests in the host country.

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

Will Jacks is not expected to feature in the first Test – the team look to have shown their hand with the eleven selected here. Still, he may have moved himself in front of the struggling Jacob Bethell with his 84, which came at almost a run a ball.

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

Brydon Carse missed the opening day because of illness, with his position going to Josh Tongue. Tongue had opening batsman McKinney edging to the keeper just after the break.

Though Stokes took the scalps, Archer caught the eye. He was lively with the fresh ball and once more after the interval, when he discomforted Will Jacks.

In the absence of Bashir and with Mark Wood departing, Joe Root was required to deliver 14 overs of his off-spin. It was mediocre fare, conceding 117 at an run rate of more than eight.

Joe Root at least claimed a scalp in the closing stages when Matt Fisher unexpectedly struck a full toss to the fielder before Jofra Archer bounced out Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.