Ben Stokes Takes Six Scalps in English Test Series Preparation Match

Tour match, Perth venue (day one of three)

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

National team: still to bat

Ben Stokes produced six wickets in his initial appearance since July but the tourists encountered an fitness worry regarding Mark Wood on the opening day of their Test preparation versus England Lions in Perth.

The England captain, returning after nearly four months out with a shoulder injury, bowled 16 overs across three bowling spells for his 6-52 against England Lions – each to catches on the leg side.

Fast bowler Wood, also making his comeback after nine months away with a knee problem, bowled a scheduled amount of 8 overs before exiting the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring issue. He will undergo scanning on Friday.

Wood's injury drained the intensity out of the day, as the Lions were dismissed for three hundred eighty-two on a slow, low surface after an automatic toss at the venue.

England aimed to bowl first to build bowling fitness before the initial Test match at the main venue, beginning on November 21st.

In a potential indication towards their opening Test strategy, the tourists fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialist bowlers plus the captain – and omitted off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in the Lions.

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

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

The team's plan to play a single practice match against the Lions has been questioned by some ex-players but Stokes responded by labeling the doubters "former players".

A relaxed first day in front of a small crowd of fans at the ground was definitely a different experience from what England will face at a packed Optus Stadium next week.

Stokes was superb in the contest against India in the domestic season, only to strain himself to breaking point. He was absent from the last match with a shoulder tear.

The skipper has not completed a complete participation in any of England's previous four series because of various injuries and the team's hopes of winning back the series are vastly diminished if he misses any of the five matches in the host country.

He has been practicing at maximum speed for two months and looked in good condition on Wednesday, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his dismissals were gifted.

Will Jacks is not expected to play in the first Test – England look to have shown their hand with the eleven named here. Nevertheless, he may have moved himself in front of the out-of-sorts Bethell with his 84, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

Even before the doubt over Mark Wood, the five fast bowlers in the England XI for this game may not have been the bowling unit for the first Test.

Carse missed the opening day because of sickness, with his place going to Josh Tongue. Josh Tongue had Lions opener McKinney edging to the keeper just after lunch.

Though the captain took the wickets, Archer impressed observers. He was energetic with the fresh ball and once more after the interval, when he caused problems for Jacks.

In the absence of Bashir and with Mark Wood leaving the field, Root was required to deliver fourteen overs of his spin bowling. It was mediocre fare, costing 117 runs at an economy of over eight.

Root at least claimed a scalp in the closing stages when Matt Fisher somehow hit a full toss to mid-on before Jofra Archer dismissed with a bouncer Matthew Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.