Stokes Takes Six Wickets in English Test Series Warm-up

Tour game, Lilac Hill (first day of three)

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

England XI: awaiting batting

The England captain achieved 6 scalps in his first action since July but the tourists encountered an fitness worry involving fast bowler Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up against the development squad in Perth.

The England captain, returning after approximately four months away with a shoulder problem, bowled sixteen overs across three spells for his six for fifty-two versus England Lions – all to catches on the leg side.

Fast bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after 9 months away with a knee injury, bowled a pre-planned number of 8 overs before leaving the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring problem. He will have a scan 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 automatic toss at Lilac Hill.

England wanted to field 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 fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialist bowlers plus Stokes – and omitted spin bowler Bashir in the development squad.

Bethell didn't strengthen his claim for selection in the Test side, making only two, but Will Jacks boosted his credentials to be called upon during the series by hitting eighty-four.

Ben McKinney, Jordan Cox, 17-year-old Thomas Rew and Potts also made half-centuries.

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

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

The captain was superb in the series against the Indian team in the domestic season, only to push himself to injury. He missed 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 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 fine shape on the match day, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his wickets were presented.

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

Even before the concern over Mark Wood, the five fast bowlers in the team lineup for this match may not have been the bowling unit for the first Test.

Carse missed the opening day because of illness, with his position going to Tongue. Tongue had opening batsman Ben McKinney caught behind just after the break.

Though Stokes took the scalps, Jofra Archer impressed observers. He was energetic with the new ball and once more after lunch, when he caused problems for Jacks.

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

Joe Root at least claimed a scalp in the closing stages when Fisher somehow struck a full toss to mid-on before Jofra Archer bounced out Matthew Potts for fifty-three with the final ball of the day.