Ben Stokes Secures Six Scalps in English Test Series Warm-up

Tour game, Lilac Hill (day one of 3)

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

National team: still to bat

Ben Stokes achieved 6 scalps in his return to play following July but England faced an fitness worry involving Mark Wood on the opening day of their Test preparation against England Lions in Perth.

The England captain, returning after approximately four months away with a shoulder problem, delivered 16 overs across three bowling spells for his six for fifty-two against England Lions – each to catches taken on the on-side.

Fast bowler Mark Wood, also making his comeback after nine months away with a knee injury, bowled a scheduled amount of eight overs before departing the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring problem. He will receive scanning on the following day.

Wood's injury removed the intensity out of the day, as the Lions were dismissed for three hundred eighty-two on a slow, low surface after an automatic toss at the venue.

The tourists wanted to bowl first to build bowling fitness before the initial Test match at the main venue, starting on 21 November.

In a potential indication towards their opening Test strategy, the tourists fielded an all-pace attack – four specialists plus the captain – and omitted off-spinner Bashir in the development squad.

Jacob Bethell failed to press his claim for inclusion in the Test team, making just two runs, but Will Jacks enhanced his claim to be called upon later in the tour by swiping eighty-four.

Ben McKinney, Cox, 17-year-old Rew and Matthew Potts also scored 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 hit back by labeling the doubters "past players".

A relaxed opening day in front of a smattering of fans at Lilac Hill was certainly a different experience from what the team will encounter at a sold-out Optus Stadium next week.

The captain was superb in the series against the Indian team in the domestic season, only to push himself to breaking point. He was absent from the final Test with a torn shoulder.

The skipper has not completed a full part in any of England's past four tours because of various injuries and the tourists' hopes of winning back the Ashes are vastly diminished if he misses any of the five Tests in Australia.

He has been bowling at full pace for 60 days and appeared in good condition on Wednesday, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his wickets were gifted.

Will Jacks is not expected to play in the first Test – England look to have shown their hand with the eleven named here. Still, he may have moved himself in front of the struggling Jacob Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

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

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

Although Stokes took the wickets, Archer caught the eye. He was energetic with the new ball and again after lunch, when he caused problems for Will Jacks.

In the omission of Bashir and with Mark Wood leaving the field, Joe Root was asked to bowl 14 overs of his spin bowling. It was mediocre fare, costing 117 at an economy of over eight.

Joe Root at least took a scalp in the closing stages when Matt Fisher unexpectedly hit a full delivery to mid-on before Archer bounced out Potts for fifty-three with the final ball of the day.