Stokes Claims 6 Scalps in England Test Series Preparation Match

Tour game, Perth venue (day one of 3)

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

National team: still to bat

The England captain produced six wickets in his first action since July but England faced an fitness worry about Mark Wood on the first day of their Test preparation versus England Lions in Western Australia.

The England captain, returning after approximately four months away with a shoulder injury, bowled sixteen overs across three bowling spells for his 6-52 against the Lions – all to catches on the on-side.

Fast bowler Wood, also making his comeback after 9 months out with a knee injury, bowled a scheduled amount of 8 overs before departing the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring problem. He will undergo scanning on Friday.

Wood's injury removed the energy out of the day, as the Lions were bowled out for three hundred eighty-two on a slow track after an uncontested toss at the venue.

England aimed to bowl first to get overs in their legs before the first Ashes Test at Optus Stadium, starting on November 21st.

In a possible hint towards their first-Test plans, the visiting team selected an fast bowling lineup – four specialists plus Stokes – and left off-spinner Bashir in the development squad.

Bethell didn't strengthen his claim for selection in the Test side, making just two runs, but Will Jacks boosted his credentials to be selected later in the tour by swiping eighty-four.

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

The team's plan to play a solitary practice match against the Lions has been criticized by some ex-players but the captain hit back by calling the doubters "has-beens".

A low-pressure opening day in front of a smattering of spectators at the ground was certainly a different experience from what the team will encounter at a sold-out Optus Stadium next week.

Stokes was excellent in the contest against the Indian team 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 England's previous four tours because of various injuries and the tourists' chances of regaining the series are vastly diminished if he is absent from any of the five matches in Australia.

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

Jacks is unlikely to play in the opening match – England look to have shown their intentions with the eleven named here. Nevertheless, he may have nudged himself ahead of the struggling Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

Prior to the doubt over Wood, the five fast bowlers in the team lineup for this game 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. Tongue had Lions opener McKinney edging to the keeper just after the break.

Though the captain took the wickets, Archer caught the eye. He was energetic with the fresh ball and again after the interval, when he caused problems for Jacks.

In the omission of Shoaib Bashir and with Wood departing, Root was asked to deliver 14 overs of his off-spin. It was mediocre fare, conceding 117 runs at an run rate of more than eight.

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