Stokes Secures 6 Scalps in England Test Series Warm-up

Tour game, Lilac Hill (day one of three)

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

National team: yet to bat

Ben Stokes delivered 6 scalps in his initial appearance following July but England faced an injury concern regarding Mark Wood on the opening day of their Test preparation versus the development squad in Western Australia.

The England captain, making his comeback after approximately four months away with a shoulder injury, bowled sixteen overs across three bowling spells for his six for fifty-two versus England Lions – all to catches on the leg side.

Fast bowler Mark Wood, also making his comeback after 9 months away with a knee injury, delivered a scheduled amount of 8 overs before exiting the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring problem. He will have a scan on the following day.

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

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

In a potential indication towards their first-Test plans, the visiting team fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialists plus the captain – and omitted spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in the development squad.

Bethell didn't strengthen his claim for selection in the Test team, making only two, but Will Jacks enhanced his claim to be called upon later in the tour by scoring 84.

Ben McKinney, Jordan Cox, 17-year-old Rew and Matthew Potts also made fifties.

The team's plan to play a solitary warm-up game against the development squad has been criticized by some ex-players but the captain responded by labeling the critics "past players".

A low-pressure opening day in front of a smattering of spectators at Lilac Hill was definitely a world away from what the team will encounter at a packed main stadium next week.

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

The captain has not managed a complete participation in any of England's previous four series because of different fitness issues and the tourists' chances 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 practicing at maximum speed for two months and looked in good condition on Wednesday, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his wickets were gifted.

Will Jacks is not expected to feature in the first Test – England look to have revealed their intentions with the eleven selected here. Nevertheless, he may have moved himself in front of the out-of-sorts Bethell with his 84, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

Prior to the concern over Mark Wood, the five seamers in the England XI for this match may not have been the attack for the first Test.

Carse was absent from the first day because of illness, with his place going to Josh Tongue. Josh Tongue had Lions opener McKinney edging to the keeper just after lunch.

Though the captain took the scalps, Archer caught the eye. He was energetic with the fresh ball and once more after lunch, when he caused problems for Will Jacks.

In the omission of Bashir and with Mark Wood departing, Joe Root was asked to deliver fourteen overs of his off-spin. It was mediocre fare, conceding 117 at an economy of over eight.

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