Ben Stokes Claims Six Wickets in England Test Series Warm-up

Practice match, Perth venue (first day of 3)

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

England XI: yet to bat

Ben Stokes achieved 6 scalps in his first action following July but the tourists encountered an fitness worry regarding fast bowler Wood on the first day of their Test preparation versus England Lions in Western Australia.

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

Fast bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after nine months away with a knee problem, bowled a pre-planned number of eight overs before leaving the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring issue. He will receive scanning on Friday.

Wood's injury removed the energy out of the day, as the England Lions were bowled out for three hundred eighty-two on a slow, low surface after an uncontested toss at Lilac Hill.

England wanted to bowl first to build bowling fitness before the initial Test match at the main venue, beginning on November 21st.

In a possible hint towards their opening Test strategy, the tourists fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialists plus Stokes – and omitted off-spinner Bashir in the development squad.

Bethell failed to press his case for inclusion in the Test team, making only two, but Will Jacks boosted his claim to be called upon later in the tour by scoring eighty-four.

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

England's decision to play a single practice match against the Lions has been questioned by some former players but Stokes responded by labeling the critics "has-beens".

A relaxed first day in front of a smattering of spectators at Lilac Hill was certainly a world away from what the team will encounter at a sold-out main stadium the following week.

Stokes was excellent in the contest against the Indian team in the domestic season, only to push himself to breaking point. He missed the last match with a torn shoulder.

The captain has not managed a full part in any of the team's past four series because of different fitness issues and the tourists' hopes of winning back the series 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 Wednesday, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his wickets were gifted.

Will Jacks is not expected to feature in the opening match – England look to have revealed their hand 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 nearly run-a-ball pace.

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

Carse missed the opening day because of illness, with his place going to Josh Tongue. Josh Tongue had Lions opener McKinney caught behind just after the break.

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

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

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