Stokes Takes 6 Wickets in English Test Series Warm-up

Tour match, Lilac Hill (first day of 3)

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

National team: yet to bat

The England captain achieved 6 scalps in his return to play since July but England faced an fitness worry regarding Mark Wood on the first day of their Test preparation against England Lions in Western Australia.

The England captain, returning after almost four months away with a shoulder problem, delivered 16 overs across three spells for his 6-52 against the Lions – each to catches on the on-side.

Fast bowler Wood, also making his comeback after nine months away with a knee problem, bowled a pre-planned number of 8 overs before departing the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring issue. He will have a scan on the following day.

The Wood situation removed the energy out of the day, as the Lions were dismissed for three hundred eighty-two on a slow track after an uncontested toss at Lilac Hill.

The tourists wanted to bowl first to accumulate bowling time before the first Ashes Test at Optus Stadium, starting on 21 November.

In a potential indication towards their first-Test plans, the visiting team selected an fast bowling lineup – four specialist bowlers plus Stokes – and omitted spin bowler Bashir in the development squad.

Bethell failed to press his claim for inclusion in the Test side, making only two, but Jacks boosted his credentials to be called upon later in the tour by swiping 84.

Ben McKinney, Cox, 17-year-old Thomas Rew and Matthew Potts also scored half-centuries.

England's plan to play a single warm-up game against the development squad has been criticized by some ex-players but the captain hit back by calling the critics "has-beens".

A low-pressure first day in front of a smattering of spectators at the ground was definitely a world away from what England will encounter at a sold-out main stadium the following week.

Stokes was excellent in the series against India in the home summer, only to push himself to injury. He was absent from the final Test with a torn shoulder.

The captain has not completed a full part in any of the team's previous four series because of different fitness issues and the team's chances of regaining the Ashes are vastly diminished if he misses any of the five Tests in Australia.

He has been bowling at full pace for two months and appeared in good condition on the match day, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his wickets were gifted.

Will Jacks is unlikely to feature in the opening match – England look to have revealed their intentions with the XI selected here. Nevertheless, he may have nudged himself ahead of the out-of-sorts Jacob Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at almost a run a ball.

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

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

Though Stokes took the wickets, Jofra Archer impressed observers. He was energetic with the new ball and once more after lunch, when he caused problems for Jacks.

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

Joe Root at least took a wicket in the final session when Fisher unexpectedly struck a full toss to the fielder before Jofra Archer bounced out Matthew Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.