Stokes Claims 6 Scalps in English Test Series Warm-up

Tour match, Lilac Hill (first day of 3)

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

National team: yet to bat

Ben Stokes delivered six wickets in his initial appearance following July but the tourists faced an injury concern involving fast bowler Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up versus England Lions in Western Australia.

The England captain, making his comeback after almost four months away with a shoulder problem, delivered sixteen overs across three bowling spells for his 6-52 against England Lions – all 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 eight overs before exiting the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring problem. He will receive scanning on Friday.

Wood's injury removed the energy out of the day, as the England Lions were bowled out for 382 on a slow track after an uncontested toss at the venue.

England aimed to field first to accumulate bowling time before the initial Test match at the main venue, beginning on November 21st.

In a potential indication towards their opening Test strategy, the tourists selected an fast bowling lineup – four specialist bowlers plus Stokes – and omitted off-spinner Bashir in the Lions.

Jacob Bethell didn't strengthen his claim for selection in the Test side, making just two runs, but Will Jacks enhanced his credentials to be selected during the series by swiping 84.

Ben McKinney, Jordan Cox, teenage Rew and Matthew Potts also scored half-centuries.

England's decision to play a single practice match against the Lions has been questioned by some former players but the captain hit back by labeling the doubters "former players".

A relaxed first day in front of a smattering of spectators at the ground was definitely a world away from what the team will face at a sold-out main stadium the following week.

Stokes was superb in the contest against the Indian team in the home summer, only to push himself to injury. He missed the final Test with a torn shoulder.

The skipper has not completed a complete participation in any of the team's previous four series because of different fitness issues and the tourists' chances of regaining the Ashes are vastly diminished if he is absent from any of the five matches in the host country.

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

Jacks is unlikely to play in the first Test – the team look to have revealed their hand with the eleven named here. Nevertheless, he may have moved himself ahead of the out-of-sorts Bethell with his 84, which came at almost a run a ball.

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

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

Although the captain took the wickets, Archer impressed observers. He was lively with the fresh ball and once more after lunch, when he discomforted Will Jacks.

In the omission of Shoaib Bashir and with Mark Wood departing, Root was required to deliver 14 overs of his off-spin. It was average performance, conceding 117 at an run rate of more than eight.

Joe Root at least took a scalp in the final session when Matt Fisher somehow hit a full delivery to the fielder before Archer dismissed with a bouncer Matthew Potts for fifty-three with the last delivery of the day.