Ben Stokes Takes Six Wickets in English Test Series Warm-up

Practice match, Lilac Hill (first day of 3)

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

England XI: awaiting batting

Ben Stokes delivered 6 scalps in his initial appearance following July but the tourists encountered an fitness worry about fast bowler Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up against England Lions in Western Australia.

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

Fast bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after nine months out with a knee problem, delivered a pre-planned number of 8 overs before leaving the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring issue. He will undergo scanning on Friday.

Wood's injury removed the energy out of the day, as the England Lions were dismissed for 382 on a sluggish pitch after an uncontested toss at the venue.

The tourists wanted to field first to build bowling fitness before the initial Test match at the main venue, starting on 21 November.

In a potential indication towards their first-Test plans, the tourists fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialists plus the captain – and omitted spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in the development squad.

Jacob Bethell failed to press his case for selection in the Test team, making only two, but Jacks enhanced his claim to be selected during the series by scoring 84.

McKinney, Cox, 17-year-old Rew and Matthew Potts also scored half-centuries.

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

A relaxed opening day in front of a small crowd of spectators at the ground was definitely a different experience from what the team will encounter at a sold-out main stadium the following week.

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

The captain has not completed a full part in any of England's past four series because of different fitness issues and the tourists' hopes of winning back the Ashes are vastly diminished if he misses any of the five Tests in Australia.

He has been practicing at maximum speed for 60 days and appeared in fine shape on the match day, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his dismissals were presented.

Jacks is not expected to play in the first Test – England look to have revealed their hand with the eleven selected here. Nevertheless, he may have moved himself in front of the out-of-sorts Jacob Bethell with his 84, 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 initial match.

Brydon Carse missed the opening day because of sickness, with his position going to Tongue. Tongue had Lions opener Ben McKinney caught behind just after the break.

Although Stokes took the scalps, Archer caught the eye. He was energetic with the new ball and again after lunch, when he caused problems for Jacks.

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

Root at least claimed a wicket in the closing stages when Matt Fisher unexpectedly hit a full toss to mid-on before Jofra Archer bounced out Matthew Potts for fifty-three with the last delivery of the day.