Ben Stokes Claims 6 Wickets in English Test Series Warm-up

Practice game, Lilac Hill (first day of three)

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

National team: yet to bat

Ben Stokes achieved 6 scalps in his initial appearance since July but the tourists faced an fitness worry about fast bowler Wood on the first day of their Test preparation against England Lions in Western Australia.

The England captain, making his comeback after almost four months away with a shoulder problem, delivered 16 overs across three bowling spells for his six for fifty-two against England Lions – all to catches taken on the leg side.

Fast bowler Wood, also making his comeback after nine months away with a knee problem, delivered a scheduled amount of eight overs before departing the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring issue. He will have a scan on Friday.

Wood's injury removed the intensity out of the day, as the England Lions were bowled out for three hundred eighty-two on a sluggish pitch after an uncontested toss at Lilac Hill.

The tourists wanted to field first to accumulate bowling time before the initial Test match at the main venue, beginning on November 21st.

In a possible hint towards their first-Test plans, the visiting team selected an fast bowling lineup – four specialist bowlers plus the captain – and left spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in the development squad.

Jacob Bethell didn't strengthen his case for selection in the Test team, making just two runs, but Jacks enhanced his claim to be called upon later in the tour by swiping eighty-four.

Ben McKinney, Jordan Cox, 17-year-old Thomas Rew and Matthew Potts also scored fifties.

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

A low-pressure opening day in front of a small crowd of fans at the ground was certainly a different experience from what the team will encounter at a packed Optus Stadium the following week.

Stokes was excellent in the contest against the Indian team in the domestic season, only to push himself to breaking point. He missed the last match with a shoulder tear.

The captain has not managed a complete participation in any of England's past four series because of various injuries and the tourists' chances of winning back the series are vastly diminished if he is absent from any of the five matches in Australia.

He has been practicing at maximum speed for two months and looked in fine shape on Wednesday, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his wickets were presented.

Jacks is not expected to feature in the opening match – the team look to have revealed their intentions with the eleven selected here. Still, he may have nudged himself in front of the out-of-sorts Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at almost a run a ball.

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

Carse was absent from the opening day because of sickness, with his place going to Josh Tongue. Tongue had Lions opener McKinney caught behind just after lunch.

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

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

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