Ben Stokes Claims 6 Scalps in English Test Series Preparation Match

Tour game, Lilac Hill (first day of 3)

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

England XI: awaiting batting

Ben Stokes produced six wickets in his initial appearance following July but England encountered an fitness worry regarding fast bowler Wood on the opening day of their Test preparation against the development squad in Perth.

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

Fast bowler Mark Wood, also making his comeback after 9 months out with a knee problem, bowled a scheduled amount of eight overs before exiting the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring problem. He will undergo scanning on the following day.

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

The tourists aimed to field first to build bowling fitness before the initial Test match at Optus Stadium, starting on November 21st.

In a possible hint towards their opening Test strategy, the visiting team fielded an all-pace attack – four specialists plus Stokes – and left off-spinner Bashir in the Lions.

Jacob Bethell failed to press his case for selection in the Test side, making just two runs, but Will Jacks enhanced his claim to be selected later in the tour by scoring eighty-four.

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

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

A low-pressure first day in front of a smattering of fans at Lilac Hill was certainly a different experience from what England will face at a packed main stadium the following week.

The captain was superb in the contest against the Indian team in the home summer, only to strain himself to breaking point. He missed the final Test with a shoulder tear.

The skipper has not completed a full part in any of England's previous four tours because of different fitness issues and the tourists' chances of winning back the Ashes are vastly diminished if he is absent from any of the five Tests in Australia.

He has been practicing at full pace for two months and appeared in fine shape on the match day, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his dismissals were presented.

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

Even before the concern over Mark Wood, the five seamers in the team lineup for this game may not have been the attack for the first Test.

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

Though Stokes took the wickets, Archer impressed observers. He was energetic with the fresh ball and again after lunch, when he caused problems for Will Jacks.

In the absence of Shoaib Bashir and with Mark Wood leaving the field, Joe Root was asked to deliver 14 overs of his off-spin. It was average performance, conceding 117 at an run rate of over eight.

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