Ben Stokes Takes Six Scalps in England Test Series Warm-up

Tour game, Perth venue (first day of three)

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

National team: still to bat

The England captain achieved six wickets in his return to play after July but England faced an injury concern about Mark Wood on the first day of their Test preparation against the development squad in Western Australia.

Stokes, returning after approximately four months out with a shoulder injury, delivered sixteen overs across three spells for his six for fifty-two versus the Lions – each to catches on the leg side.

Pace bowler Wood, himself returning after 9 months away with a knee injury, delivered a pre-planned number of 8 overs before departing the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring problem. He will undergo scanning on the following day.

The Wood situation sucked the energy out of the day, as the England Lions were bowled out for 382 on a slow, low surface after an uncontested toss at Lilac Hill.

The tourists aimed to bowl first to build bowling fitness before the initial Test match at Optus Stadium, starting on 21 November.

In a potential indication towards their opening Test strategy, the visiting team fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialist bowlers plus the captain – and omitted off-spinner Bashir in the Lions.

Jacob Bethell didn't strengthen his claim for selection in the Test team, making just two runs, but Will Jacks boosted his credentials to be selected during the series by hitting 84.

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

The team's decision to play a solitary practice match against the Lions has been criticized by some ex-players but the captain hit back by labeling the critics "has-beens".

A low-pressure opening day in front of a smattering of fans at Lilac Hill was certainly a world away from what England will face at a sold-out main stadium next week.

The captain was excellent in the contest against the Indian team in the home summer, only to strain himself to injury. He was absent from the last match with a shoulder tear.

The captain has not managed a complete participation in any of the team's past four tours because of various injuries and the team's chances of winning back the Ashes are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five matches in the host country.

He has been bowling at maximum speed for 60 days and looked in fine shape on the match day, even if he could not comprehend 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. Nevertheless, he may have nudged himself ahead of the struggling Jacob 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 England XI for this match may not have been the attack for the first Test.

Brydon Carse was absent from the first day because of illness, with his position going to Josh Tongue. Tongue had Lions opener Ben McKinney edging to the keeper just after the break.

Although the captain took the scalps, Jofra Archer impressed observers. He was lively with the new ball and once more after lunch, when he caused problems for Will Jacks.

In the absence of Bashir and with Wood leaving the field, Root was asked to bowl 14 overs of his spin bowling. It was mediocre fare, conceding 117 at an run rate of more than eight.

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