Ben Stokes Claims 6 Wickets in English Test Series Preparation Match

Tour match, Lilac Hill (first day of 3)

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

England XI: still to bat

Ben Stokes delivered six wickets in his initial appearance after July but the tourists faced an injury concern about fast bowler Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up versus the development squad in Western Australia.

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

Fast bowler Wood, also making his comeback after nine months away with a knee injury, delivered a pre-planned number of 8 overs before leaving the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring problem. He will receive scanning on Friday.

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

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

In a possible hint towards their opening Test strategy, the tourists selected an fast bowling lineup – four specialist bowlers plus Stokes – and left spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in the Lions.

Jacob Bethell failed to press his case for selection in the Test side, making only two, but Jacks boosted his credentials to be called upon later in the tour by hitting 84.

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

England's decision to play a single practice match against the development squad has been questioned by some former players but the captain responded by labeling the doubters "past players".

A low-pressure opening day in front of a small crowd of fans at Lilac Hill was certainly a world away from what the team will encounter at a packed main stadium next week.

The captain was excellent in the contest against the Indian team in the domestic season, only to strain himself to breaking point. He was absent from the final Test with a shoulder tear.

The skipper has not managed a complete participation in any of the team's previous four series because of various injuries and the tourists' chances of winning back the series are vastly diminished if he is absent from any of the five matches in the host country.

He has been bowling at maximum speed 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 dismissals were gifted.

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

Even before the doubt over Mark Wood, the five seamers in the England XI for this game may not have been the bowling unit for the initial match.

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

Though the captain took the scalps, Archer impressed observers. He was energetic with the fresh ball and again after the interval, when he caused problems for Jacks.

In the absence of Bashir and with Wood departing, Root was required to deliver fourteen overs of his off-spin. It was average performance, conceding 117 at an run rate of over eight.

Root at least claimed a wicket in the closing stages when Fisher unexpectedly struck a full toss to mid-on before Archer bounced out Matthew Potts for fifty-three with the final ball of the day.