Ben Stokes Takes 6 Scalps in English Test Series Preparation Match

Tour game, Perth venue (first day of 3)

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

National team: awaiting batting

Ben Stokes delivered six wickets in his return to play following July but England faced an fitness worry involving fast bowler Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up versus England Lions in Western Australia.

Stokes, returning after almost four months out with a shoulder problem, delivered sixteen overs across three spells for his 6-52 versus the Lions – each to catches on the on-side.

Pace bowler Mark Wood, also making his comeback after 9 months away with a knee injury, delivered a pre-planned number of 8 overs before exiting the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring issue. He will receive scanning on Friday.

Wood's injury drained the intensity out of the day, as the England Lions were dismissed for three hundred eighty-two on a slow, low surface after an uncontested toss at Lilac Hill.

England aimed to field first to get overs in their legs before the initial Test match at the main venue, starting on November 21st.

In a possible hint towards their opening Test strategy, the tourists fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialist bowlers plus the captain – and omitted off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in the Lions.

Jacob Bethell failed to press his claim for inclusion in the Test side, making only two, but Will Jacks boosted his credentials to be selected later in the tour by swiping eighty-four.

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

England's plan to play a single warm-up game against the Lions has been criticized by some former players but Stokes hit back by calling the doubters "past players".

A relaxed opening day in front of a small crowd of fans at Lilac Hill was certainly a world away from what England will encounter at a packed Optus Stadium next week.

Stokes was superb in the series against India in the home summer, only to strain himself to breaking point. He was absent from the final Test with a shoulder tear.

The skipper has not managed a complete participation in any of England's past four tours because of various injuries and the team's hopes of regaining 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 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 first Test – England look to have revealed their hand with the XI named here. Still, he may have moved himself ahead of the out-of-sorts Jacob Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at almost a run a ball.

Prior to the concern over Wood, the five fast bowlers in the England XI for this match may not have been the bowling unit for the initial match.

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

Though Stokes took the wickets, Archer impressed observers. He was energetic with the fresh ball and once more after lunch, when he discomforted Will Jacks.

In the absence of Shoaib Bashir and with Mark Wood departing, Root was asked to deliver 14 overs of his spin bowling. It was average performance, costing 117 runs at an run rate of more than eight.

Root at least claimed a wicket in the final session when Matt Fisher unexpectedly hit a full toss to the fielder before Jofra Archer dismissed with a bouncer Matthew Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.