Ben Stokes Claims Six Scalps in English Test Series Preparation Match

Tour match, Lilac Hill (day one of three)

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

National team: awaiting batting

Ben Stokes achieved 6 scalps in his return to play following July but England faced an fitness worry regarding Mark Wood on the first day of their Test preparation against England Lions in Western Australia.

Stokes, returning after almost four months out with a shoulder injury, bowled 16 overs across three bowling spells for his 6-52 against the Lions – all to catches taken on the on-side.

Fast bowler Wood, himself returning after 9 months out with a knee injury, delivered a scheduled amount of 8 overs before leaving the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring problem. He will receive scanning on Friday.

The Wood situation removed the intensity out of the day, as the England Lions were bowled out for 382 on a slow track after an automatic toss at Lilac Hill.

England aimed to field first to build bowling fitness before the initial Test match at the main venue, starting on November 21st.

In a possible hint towards their first-Test plans, the visiting team selected an all-pace attack – four specialist bowlers plus the captain – and omitted spin bowler Bashir in the development squad.

Jacob Bethell failed to press his claim for inclusion in the Test team, making just two runs, but Will Jacks boosted his credentials to be called upon later in the tour by swiping eighty-four.

Ben McKinney, Jordan Cox, 17-year-old Rew and Potts also made fifties.

The team's decision to play a single practice match against the development squad has been criticized by some ex-players but Stokes hit back by labeling the critics "former players".

A relaxed opening day in front of a small crowd of fans at the ground was definitely a different experience from what England will face at a packed main stadium next week.

Stokes was superb in the series against India in the domestic season, only to strain himself to injury. He missed the final Test with a torn shoulder.

The captain has not managed a complete participation in any of the team's previous four tours because of various injuries and the tourists' hopes of winning back the Ashes are vastly diminished if he is absent from any of the five matches in the host country.

He has been bowling 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.

Jacks is unlikely to feature in the first Test – the team look to have shown their hand with the XI selected here. Still, he may have nudged himself ahead of the out-of-sorts Jacob Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

Even before the doubt over Wood, the five seamers in the England XI for this game may not have been the bowling unit for the first Test.

Brydon Carse missed the first day because of sickness, with his place going to Tongue. Josh Tongue had Lions opener Ben McKinney caught behind 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 caused problems for Jacks.

In the absence of Shoaib Bashir and with Wood departing, Joe Root was required to bowl 14 overs of his off-spin. It was mediocre fare, conceding 117 runs at an economy of more than eight.

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