Stokes Claims 6 Wickets in English Test Series Warm-up

Practice game, Perth venue (first day of three)

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

National team: yet to bat

The England captain achieved six wickets in his initial appearance after July but England encountered an fitness worry regarding Mark Wood on the first day of their Test preparation versus England Lions in Perth.

Stokes, making his comeback after approximately four months away with a shoulder problem, bowled 16 overs across three spells for his 6-52 against England Lions – each to catches taken on the leg side.

Fast bowler Mark Wood, also making his comeback after 9 months away with a knee problem, delivered a pre-planned number of eight 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 removed the energy out of the day, as the England Lions were dismissed for 382 on a slow, low surface after an automatic toss at the venue.

England aimed to bowl first to get overs in their legs before the initial Test match at Optus Stadium, beginning on 21 November.

In a possible hint towards their first-Test plans, the tourists fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialists plus the captain – and left spin bowler Bashir in the development squad.

Bethell failed to press his claim for inclusion in the Test side, making just two runs, but Will Jacks boosted his claim to be selected during the series by hitting eighty-four.

Ben McKinney, Cox, teenage Thomas Rew and Matthew Potts also scored fifties.

England's decision to play a solitary practice match against the Lions has been criticized by some ex-players but the captain responded by labeling the doubters "has-beens".

A low-pressure first day in front of a small crowd of fans at Lilac Hill was definitely a different experience from what England will encounter at a packed main stadium the following week.

The captain was excellent in the series against the Indian team in the home summer, only to strain himself to injury. He was absent from the last match with a shoulder tear.

The skipper has not completed 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 matches in Australia.

He has been bowling at full pace 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.

Jacks is not expected to feature 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 Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

Even before the concern over Mark Wood, the five seamers in the team lineup for this match may not have been the bowling unit for the initial match.

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

Although the captain took the wickets, Archer caught the eye. He was lively with the new ball and once more after lunch, when he discomforted Will Jacks.

In the absence of Bashir and with Wood leaving the field, Root was asked to bowl fourteen overs of his off-spin. It was mediocre fare, conceding 117 at an economy of over eight.

Root at least took a scalp in the final session when Matt Fisher somehow struck a full toss to mid-on before Jofra Archer dismissed with a bouncer Matthew Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.