Stokes Claims Six Wickets in English Test Series Warm-up

Practice game, Lilac Hill (day one of 3)

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

England XI: yet to bat

The England captain produced six wickets in his return to play following July but England encountered an fitness worry involving fast bowler Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up versus England Lions in Perth.

The England captain, returning after approximately four months out with a shoulder problem, bowled sixteen overs across three spells for his 6-52 versus the Lions – all to catches on the leg side.

Fast bowler Wood, himself returning after 9 months away 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 the following day.

The Wood situation removed the energy out of the day, as the England Lions were dismissed for three hundred eighty-two on a sluggish pitch after an automatic toss at the venue.

England wanted to bowl first to get overs in their legs before the initial Test match at the main venue, starting on 21 November.

In a possible hint towards their first-Test plans, the tourists fielded an all-pace attack – four specialists plus the captain – and omitted off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in the development squad.

Jacob Bethell didn't strengthen his claim for selection in the Test side, making just two runs, but Will Jacks enhanced his claim to be called upon during the series by hitting eighty-four.

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

England's plan to play a solitary warm-up game against the Lions has been criticized by some ex-players but Stokes responded by labeling the doubters "has-beens".

A relaxed opening day in front of a small crowd of fans at the ground was definitely a world away from what England will encounter at a sold-out Optus Stadium the following week.

The captain was excellent in the series against the Indian team in the home summer, only to push himself to breaking point. He was absent from the last match with a torn shoulder.

The skipper has not managed a full part in any of the team's previous four tours because of different fitness issues and the team's chances of regaining the Ashes are vastly diminished if he misses any of the five Tests in Australia.

He has been bowling at maximum speed 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 intentions with the eleven selected here. Nevertheless, he may have nudged himself in front of the out-of-sorts Jacob Bethell with his 84, which came at almost a run a ball.

Even before the doubt over 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 sickness, with his place going to Josh Tongue. Josh Tongue had Lions opener McKinney edging to the keeper just after lunch.

Although Stokes took the scalps, Archer caught the eye. He was energetic with the fresh ball and again after the interval, when he discomforted Will Jacks.

In the absence of Bashir and with Mark Wood departing, Root was required to bowl fourteen overs of his spin bowling. It was average performance, costing 117 at an economy of more than eight.

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