Stokes Takes Six Scalps in England Test Series Warm-up

Tour game, Lilac Hill (first day of three)

Development squad 382: Will Jacks 84, McKinney 67; Stokes 6-52

England XI: yet to bat

The England captain delivered 6 scalps in his return to play after July but England encountered an injury concern involving Mark Wood on the first day of their Test preparation against England Lions in Perth.

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

Fast bowler Wood, himself returning after nine months away with a knee problem, delivered a pre-planned number of 8 overs before leaving the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring problem. He will undergo scanning on Friday.

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

England wanted to field first to accumulate bowling time before the initial Test match at Optus Stadium, starting on November 21st.

In a possible hint towards their opening Test strategy, the visiting team fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialist bowlers plus Stokes – and left off-spinner Bashir in the development squad.

Jacob Bethell didn't strengthen his case for inclusion in the Test team, making only two, but Will Jacks boosted his credentials to be selected during the series by scoring eighty-four.

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

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

A relaxed opening day in front of a small crowd of fans at Lilac Hill was definitely a different experience from what England will encounter at a sold-out main stadium next week.

Stokes was excellent in the series against India in the domestic season, only to push himself to breaking point. He missed the final Test with a torn shoulder.

The skipper has not managed a complete participation in any of the team's past four tours because of various injuries and the tourists' hopes of winning back the series are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five matches in Australia.

He has been bowling at full pace for 60 days and appeared 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 feature in the opening match – the team look to have revealed their hand with the eleven selected here. Still, he may have nudged himself ahead of the out-of-sorts Jacob Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

Even before the concern over Wood, the five seamers in the England XI 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 Ben McKinney caught behind just after the break.

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

In the absence of Shoaib Bashir and with Wood departing, Joe Root was asked to deliver fourteen overs of his off-spin. It was average performance, conceding 117 runs at an economy of over eight.

Joe Root at least took a wicket in the final session when Fisher unexpectedly hit a full toss to mid-on before Archer bounced out Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.