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

Practice game, Lilac Hill (first day of three)

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

England XI: still to bat

The England captain delivered 6 scalps in his initial appearance since July but the tourists encountered an fitness worry involving fast bowler Wood on the first day of their Test preparation against the development squad in Perth.

The England captain, returning after approximately four months away with a shoulder problem, delivered 16 overs across three spells for his 6-52 against the Lions – each to catches taken on the leg side.

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

Wood's injury removed the energy out of the day, as the Lions were bowled out for 382 on a slow track after an uncontested toss at Lilac Hill.

The tourists wanted to field first to get overs in their legs before the initial Test match at the main venue, beginning on November 21st.

In a potential indication towards their opening Test strategy, the visiting team selected an fast bowling lineup – four specialist bowlers plus Stokes – and omitted spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in the development squad.

Jacob Bethell failed to press his case for inclusion in the Test side, making only two, but Will Jacks boosted his claim to be selected during the series by swiping eighty-four.

Ben McKinney, Jordan Cox, teenage Rew and Matthew Potts also scored fifties.

The team's plan to play a single warm-up game against the development squad has been questioned by some ex-players but Stokes responded by calling the doubters "past players".

A relaxed first day in front of a smattering of fans at the ground was certainly a world away from what England will encounter at a sold-out Optus Stadium the following week.

Stokes was superb in the contest against India in the domestic season, only to push himself to injury. He was absent from the last match with a shoulder tear.

The skipper has not managed a complete participation in any of England's past four tours because of various injuries and the team's chances of regaining the Ashes are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five Tests in Australia.

He has been bowling at full pace for two months and looked in good condition on the match day, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his wickets were gifted.

Will Jacks is unlikely to play in the first Test – England look to have revealed their hand with the XI named here. Still, he may have nudged himself ahead of the out-of-sorts Jacob Bethell with his 84, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

Prior to the concern over Mark Wood, the five seamers in the England XI for this game may not have been the attack for the first Test.

Brydon Carse missed the opening day because of illness, with his place going to Josh Tongue. Josh Tongue had Lions opener Ben McKinney edging to the keeper just after lunch.

Although Stokes took the scalps, Archer impressed observers. He was energetic with the fresh ball and once more after lunch, when he discomforted Jacks.

In the absence of Bashir and with Wood leaving the field, Root was required to bowl fourteen overs of his off-spin. It was mediocre fare, costing 117 at an run rate of over eight.

Joe Root at least claimed a scalp in the final session when Matt Fisher unexpectedly hit a full delivery to mid-on before Archer dismissed with a bouncer Potts for fifty-three with the last delivery of the day.