Stokes Takes Six Scalps in England Test Series Preparation Match

Tour match, Lilac Hill (first day of three)

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

National team: still to bat

Ben Stokes produced 6 scalps in his initial appearance following July but England faced an injury concern about fast bowler Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up against the development squad in Western Australia.

Stokes, returning after almost four months out with a shoulder injury, delivered sixteen overs across three bowling spells for his six for fifty-two versus England Lions – all to catches taken on the on-side.

Pace bowler Wood, also making his comeback after nine months out with a knee injury, delivered a scheduled amount of eight overs before departing the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring issue. He will undergo scanning on the following day.

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

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

In a possible hint towards their first-Test plans, the tourists fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialist bowlers plus Stokes – and left off-spinner Bashir in the development squad.

Jacob Bethell didn't strengthen his case for selection in the Test side, making just two runs, but Will Jacks enhanced his credentials to be called upon later in the tour by scoring eighty-four.

McKinney, Cox, teenage Rew and Matthew Potts also scored half-centuries.

The team's decision to play a single practice match against the Lions has been criticized by some ex-players but Stokes hit back by labeling the critics "former players".

A low-pressure first day in front of a small crowd of spectators at Lilac Hill was definitely a world away from what the team will encounter at a sold-out Optus Stadium next week.

The captain was excellent in the contest against India in the domestic season, only to push himself to breaking point. He was absent from the last match with a shoulder tear.

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

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

Jacks is not expected to feature in the first Test – the team look to have shown their intentions with the XI named here. Nevertheless, he may have moved himself ahead of the struggling Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at almost a run a ball.

Prior to the doubt over Mark Wood, the five seamers in the team lineup for this match may not have been the bowling unit for the first Test.

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

Although the captain took the wickets, Archer impressed observers. He was energetic with the new ball and once more after the interval, when he discomforted Jacks.

In the omission of Bashir and with Wood leaving the field, Root was required to deliver 14 overs of his spin bowling. It was average performance, costing 117 at an run rate of over eight.

Joe Root at least claimed a scalp in the final session when Matt Fisher somehow hit a full toss to the fielder before Jofra Archer bounced out Matthew Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.