Stokes Secures 6 Scalps in England Test Series Warm-up

Practice game, Perth venue (first day of 3)

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

National team: yet to bat

Ben Stokes delivered 6 scalps in his first action since July but the tourists encountered an fitness worry regarding Mark Wood on the first day of their Test preparation versus the development squad in Western Australia.

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

Pace bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after nine months out with a knee injury, delivered a scheduled amount of 8 overs before departing the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring problem. He will have a scan on Friday.

The Wood situation drained the energy out of the day, as the Lions were bowled out for three hundred eighty-two on a sluggish pitch after an uncontested toss at Lilac Hill.

The tourists aimed to field first to build bowling fitness before the initial Test match at the main venue, beginning on November 21st.

In a potential indication towards their opening Test strategy, the tourists fielded an all-pace attack – four specialist bowlers plus the captain – and left spin bowler Bashir in the development squad.

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

Ben McKinney, Cox, teenage Rew and Potts also made fifties.

England's decision to play a solitary warm-up game against the development squad has been criticized by some former players but Stokes hit back by labeling the critics "past players".

A low-pressure first day in front of a small crowd of spectators at Lilac Hill was certainly 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 home summer, only to push himself to injury. He missed the last match with a torn shoulder.

The skipper has not managed a full part in any of the team's past four series because of different fitness issues and the team's chances of winning back the series are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five matches in the host country.

He has been practicing at maximum speed for 60 days and looked in good condition on Wednesday, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his wickets were gifted.

Will Jacks is unlikely to feature in the first Test – the team look to have revealed their hand with the XI named here. Nevertheless, he may have nudged himself in front of the struggling Jacob Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

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

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

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

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

Root at least claimed a scalp in the closing stages when Matt Fisher unexpectedly hit a full toss to mid-on before Jofra Archer dismissed with a bouncer Potts for fifty-three with the final ball of the day.