Ben Stokes Claims 6 Wickets in English Test Series Preparation Match

Practice match, Lilac Hill (first day of 3)

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

National team: still to bat

The England captain delivered 6 scalps in his return to play after July but the tourists encountered an injury concern about fast bowler Wood on the first day of their Test preparation versus England Lions in Perth.

Stokes, making his comeback after almost four months out with a shoulder problem, bowled sixteen overs across three bowling spells for his 6-52 versus England Lions – all to catches on the leg side.

Pace bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after nine months away with a knee problem, 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.

The Wood situation drained the energy out of the day, as the Lions were dismissed for three hundred eighty-two on a slow track after an automatic toss at Lilac Hill.

England wanted to field first to build bowling fitness before the first Ashes Test at the main venue, beginning on 21 November.

In a possible hint towards their first-Test plans, the visiting team selected an all-pace attack – four specialists plus the captain – and omitted spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in the development squad.

Jacob Bethell didn't strengthen his case for selection in the Test team, making just two runs, but Will Jacks boosted his credentials to be selected later in the tour by scoring 84.

McKinney, Jordan Cox, teenage Thomas Rew and Matthew Potts also scored fifties.

England's plan to play a single warm-up game against the development squad has been questioned by some former players but Stokes hit back by labeling the doubters "has-beens".

A relaxed opening day in front of a smattering of fans at the ground was certainly a world away from what England will encounter at a packed main stadium next week.

Stokes was superb in the contest against India in the home summer, only to push himself to breaking point. He missed the last match 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 winning back the Ashes are vastly diminished if he misses any of the five Tests in Australia.

He has been practicing at maximum speed for 60 days and appeared in fine shape on the match day, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his wickets were gifted.

Jacks is unlikely to feature in the first Test – England look to have revealed their intentions with the eleven selected here. Still, he may have moved himself in front of the struggling Jacob Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at almost a run a ball.

Prior to the doubt over Wood, the five seamers in the team lineup for this game may not have been the attack for the initial match.

Carse missed the first day because of illness, with his place going to 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 once more after lunch, when he caused problems for Jacks.

In the absence of Shoaib Bashir and with Mark Wood leaving the field, Joe Root was asked to deliver fourteen overs of his spin bowling. It was average performance, conceding 117 at an economy of more than eight.

Joe Root at least claimed a wicket in the closing stages when Fisher somehow hit a full delivery to mid-on before Jofra Archer dismissed with a bouncer Matthew Potts for fifty-three with the last delivery of the day.