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

Tour game, Perth venue (first day of 3)

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

England XI: still to bat

The England captain achieved 6 scalps in his first action following July but the tourists faced an fitness worry about fast bowler Wood on the first day of their Test preparation against the development squad in Perth.

Stokes, making his comeback after almost four months away with a shoulder injury, bowled sixteen overs across three bowling spells for his 6-52 versus England Lions – each to catches taken on the leg side.

Fast bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after nine months out with a knee problem, bowled a pre-planned number of eight overs before departing the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring problem. He will receive scanning on the following day.

The Wood situation drained the intensity out of the day, as the England Lions were dismissed for three hundred eighty-two on a slow, low surface after an uncontested toss at the venue.

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

In a possible hint towards their first-Test plans, the visiting team selected an fast bowling lineup – four specialists plus Stokes – and left spin bowler Bashir in the Lions.

Bethell didn't strengthen his claim for selection in the Test side, making just two runs, but Will Jacks boosted his claim to be selected later in the tour by scoring 84.

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

England's decision to play a solitary practice match against the development squad has been criticized by some ex-players but Stokes hit back by calling the doubters "former players".

A low-pressure opening day in front of a smattering of spectators at the ground was definitely a different experience from what the team will face at a packed main stadium the following week.

Stokes was superb in the series against India in the home summer, only to push himself to injury. He was absent from the final Test with a torn shoulder.

The skipper has not managed a full part in any of England's previous four tours because of different fitness issues and the tourists' hopes of regaining the Ashes are significantly reduced if he is absent from any of the five Tests in the host country.

He has been bowling at full pace for two months and appeared in fine shape on Wednesday, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his wickets were presented.

Will Jacks is not expected to feature in the opening match – England look to have revealed their intentions with the XI named here. Nevertheless, he may have moved himself in front of the struggling Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at almost a run a ball.

Even before the doubt over Wood, the five seamers in the team lineup for this game may not have been the attack for the initial match.

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

Although Stokes took the scalps, Jofra Archer impressed observers. He was energetic with the fresh ball and again after lunch, when he caused problems for Will Jacks.

In the omission of Bashir and with Wood departing, Root was required to deliver fourteen overs of his spin bowling. It was mediocre fare, costing 117 runs at an run rate of more than eight.

Joe Root at least took a scalp in the final session when Matt Fisher somehow struck a full delivery to the fielder before Archer bounced out Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.