Ben Stokes Claims 6 Scalps in England Test Series Preparation Match

Tour match, Perth venue (first day of 3)

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

England XI: awaiting batting

The England captain delivered six wickets in his return to play since July but the tourists faced an injury concern involving Mark Wood on the opening day of their Test preparation versus the development squad in Perth.

Stokes, making his comeback after almost four months out with a shoulder problem, bowled 16 overs across three spells for his six for fifty-two versus the Lions – each to catches taken on the on-side.

Pace bowler Wood, himself returning after nine months away with a knee injury, delivered a pre-planned number of 8 overs before departing the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring issue. He will undergo scanning on the following day.

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

The tourists wanted to bowl first to accumulate bowling time before the first Ashes Test at Optus Stadium, starting on 21 November.

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

Bethell didn't strengthen his case for selection in the Test side, making only two, but Will Jacks boosted his credentials to be called upon during the series by swiping 84.

Ben McKinney, Cox, teenage Thomas Rew and Matthew Potts also made half-centuries.

The team's decision to play a solitary practice match against the development squad has been criticized by some former players but the captain hit back by labeling the doubters "former players".

A relaxed first day in front of a smattering of spectators at the ground was certainly a different experience from what England will face at a sold-out Optus Stadium next 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 captain has not managed a complete participation in any of the team's previous four series because of different fitness issues and the team's chances of regaining the series are vastly diminished if he misses any of the five Tests in the host country.

He has been bowling at full pace 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 wickets were presented.

Will Jacks is not expected to feature in the first Test – the team look to have shown their hand with the XI selected here. Nevertheless, he may have nudged himself ahead of the struggling Jacob Bethell with his 84, which came at almost a run a ball.

Prior to the doubt over Wood, the five seamers in the England XI for this match may not have been the bowling unit for the initial match.

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

Although the captain took the scalps, Archer impressed observers. He was energetic with the new ball and again after the interval, when he caused problems for Jacks.

In the absence of Bashir and with Wood departing, Root was asked to bowl 14 overs of his spin bowling. It was mediocre fare, costing 117 runs at an run rate of more than eight.

Root at least claimed a wicket in the final session when Fisher unexpectedly struck a full toss to mid-on before Jofra Archer dismissed with a bouncer Matthew Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.