Ben Stokes Claims Six Scalps in England Test Series Preparation Match

Practice match, Perth venue (day one of three)

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

England XI: still to bat

The England captain achieved six wickets in his return to play following July but the tourists faced an injury concern involving fast bowler Wood on the first day of their Test preparation against England Lions in Western Australia.

The England captain, making his comeback after nearly four months out with a shoulder problem, bowled sixteen overs across three bowling spells for his six for fifty-two against the Lions – each to catches on the on-side.

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

Wood's injury drained the energy out of the day, as the England Lions were dismissed for 382 on a sluggish pitch after an automatic toss at the venue.

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

In a possible hint towards their first-Test plans, the visiting team fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialist bowlers plus the captain – and omitted off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in the Lions.

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

McKinney, Jordan Cox, teenage Thomas Rew and Potts also scored half-centuries.

The team's decision to play a single warm-up game against the Lions has been questioned by some ex-players but Stokes responded by labeling the critics "past players".

A low-pressure first day in front of a small crowd of fans at Lilac Hill was definitely a different experience from what England will face at a packed main stadium the following week.

The captain was superb in the contest against India in the home summer, only to push himself to breaking point. He was absent from the final Test with a torn shoulder.

The captain has not completed a complete participation in any of the team's previous four tours because of various injuries and the tourists' chances of regaining the Ashes are significantly reduced if he is absent from any of the five Tests in Australia.

He has been practicing at full pace for 60 days and looked in fine shape on the match day, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his wickets were presented.

Jacks is unlikely to play in the opening match – England look to have shown their hand with the XI selected here. Nevertheless, he may have nudged himself in front of the struggling Jacob Bethell with his 84, which came at almost a run a ball.

Even before 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 position going to Tongue. Josh Tongue had Lions opener McKinney caught behind just after the break.

Although the captain took the scalps, Archer caught the eye. He was lively with the new ball and once more after lunch, when he discomforted Will Jacks.

In the omission of Shoaib Bashir and with Mark Wood leaving the field, Joe Root was required to bowl fourteen overs of his spin bowling. It was average performance, costing 117 runs at an economy of over eight.

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