Ben Stokes Secures 6 Scalps in England Test Series Warm-up

Tour game, Lilac Hill (first day of three)

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

National team: yet to bat

Ben Stokes achieved six wickets in his initial appearance following July but England faced an injury concern regarding Mark Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up versus England Lions in Perth.

Stokes, making his comeback after approximately four months out with a shoulder problem, delivered sixteen overs across three spells for his six for fifty-two against England Lions – all to catches taken on the on-side.

Pace bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after 9 months away with a knee problem, delivered a scheduled amount of 8 overs before leaving the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring issue. He will undergo scanning on the following day.

Wood's injury removed the intensity out of the day, as the England Lions were bowled out for three hundred eighty-two on a sluggish pitch after an automatic toss at the venue.

The tourists aimed to field first to get overs in their legs before the first Ashes Test at Optus Stadium, starting on November 21st.

In a possible hint towards their opening Test strategy, the tourists selected an fast bowling lineup – 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 side, making just two runs, but Will Jacks boosted his credentials to be called upon later in the tour by scoring eighty-four.

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

The team's plan to play a single warm-up game against the development squad has been criticized by some ex-players but the captain hit back by calling the doubters "former players".

A low-pressure first day in front of a smattering of spectators at the ground was definitely a different experience from what the team will encounter at a packed main stadium next week.

Stokes was superb in the series against the Indian team in the home summer, only to strain himself to breaking point. He was absent from the last match with a shoulder tear.

The skipper has not managed a full part in any of England's previous four tours because of different fitness issues and the tourists' hopes of regaining the Ashes are vastly diminished if he misses any of the five Tests in Australia.

He has been practicing at full pace for two months and appeared in good condition on the match day, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his dismissals were gifted.

Will Jacks is not expected to feature in the first Test – England look to have revealed their hand with the XI named here. Nevertheless, he may have moved himself ahead of the out-of-sorts Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at almost a run a ball.

Prior to the doubt over Mark Wood, the five seamers in the England XI 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 place going to Josh Tongue. Tongue had Lions opener Ben McKinney edging to the keeper just after lunch.

Although the captain took the scalps, Archer impressed observers. He was energetic with the new ball and again after the interval, when he discomforted Jacks.

In the omission of Bashir and with Wood leaving the field, Root was required to deliver 14 overs of his off-spin. It was mediocre fare, conceding 117 at an economy of more than eight.

Joe Root at least took a scalp in the closing stages when Matt Fisher somehow hit a full toss to the fielder before Archer bounced out Potts for fifty-three with the final ball of the day.