Stokes Secures 6 Wickets in England Test Series Warm-up

Practice game, Lilac Hill (first day of 3)

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

National team: awaiting batting

Ben Stokes achieved six wickets in his return to play after July but England faced an fitness worry 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 approximately four months away with a shoulder injury, delivered sixteen overs across three spells for his 6-52 against the Lions – all to catches on the on-side.

Pace bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after nine months away with a knee injury, delivered a scheduled amount of 8 overs before exiting the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring issue. He will receive scanning on the following day.

The Wood situation drained the energy out of the day, as the Lions were dismissed for 382 on a slow, low surface after an automatic toss at Lilac Hill.

The tourists wanted to bowl first to get overs in their legs before the first Ashes Test at Optus Stadium, beginning on November 21st.

In a potential indication towards their first-Test plans, the tourists fielded an all-pace attack – four specialists plus the captain – and left off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in the Lions.

Jacob Bethell didn't strengthen his claim for inclusion in the Test team, making only two, but Jacks boosted his credentials to be called upon during the series by scoring 84.

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

England's plan to play a solitary warm-up game against the development squad has been criticized by some former players but Stokes responded by labeling the doubters "has-beens".

A low-pressure first day in front of a small crowd of fans at the ground was definitely a different experience from what England will encounter at a sold-out Optus Stadium next week.

The captain was superb in the series against the Indian team in the home summer, only to strain himself to breaking point. He missed the last match with a torn shoulder.

The skipper has not managed a complete participation in any of England's past four tours because of different fitness issues and the tourists' hopes of regaining the series are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five matches in Australia.

He has been bowling at maximum speed for two months and appeared in fine shape on Wednesday, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his wickets were presented.

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 Jacob Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at almost a run a ball.

Even before the doubt over Mark Wood, the five fast bowlers 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 place going to Josh Tongue. Tongue had Lions opener Ben McKinney caught behind just after lunch.

Although Stokes took the scalps, Archer caught the eye. He was energetic with the fresh ball and again after the interval, when he discomforted Will Jacks.

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

Root at least took a wicket in the final session when Fisher unexpectedly struck a full delivery to the fielder before Archer bounced out Potts for fifty-three with the final ball of the day.