Ben Stokes Takes 6 Scalps in English Test Series Preparation Match

Tour match, Lilac Hill (first day of 3)

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

England XI: still to bat

Ben Stokes produced 6 scalps in his return to play following July but the tourists faced an fitness worry involving fast bowler Wood on the first day of their Test preparation against the development squad in Perth.

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

Fast bowler Mark Wood, also making his comeback after 9 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 issue. He will receive scanning on Friday.

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

England wanted to bowl first to accumulate bowling time before the first Ashes Test at the main venue, starting on November 21st.

In a potential indication towards their opening Test strategy, the visiting team selected an fast bowling lineup – four specialists plus Stokes – and left off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in the development squad.

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

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

England's plan to play a single practice match against the Lions has been criticized by some former players but Stokes responded by calling the doubters "former players".

A low-pressure first day in front of a smattering of spectators at Lilac Hill was certainly a different experience from what England will face at a sold-out Optus Stadium the following week.

Stokes was superb in the contest against the Indian team in the home summer, only to push himself to breaking point. He was absent from the final Test with a shoulder tear.

The skipper has not managed a full part in any of the team's previous four tours 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 Tests in the host country.

He has been bowling at full pace for 60 days and appeared in good condition on the match day, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his wickets were presented.

Will Jacks is not expected to feature in the opening match – England look to have revealed their hand with the eleven selected here. Nevertheless, he may have moved himself ahead of the struggling Jacob Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at almost a run a ball.

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

Carse was absent from the opening day because of sickness, with his position going to Josh Tongue. Josh Tongue had Lions opener Ben McKinney edging to the keeper just after the break.

Though the captain took the scalps, Jofra Archer impressed observers. He was lively with the fresh ball and once more after lunch, when he discomforted Jacks.

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

Joe Root at least took a scalp in the closing stages when Fisher somehow hit a full toss to mid-on before Jofra Archer dismissed with a bouncer Matthew Potts for 53 with the final ball of the day.