Ben Stokes Claims Six Scalps in English Test Series Preparation Match

Tour match, Lilac Hill (first day of 3)

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

England XI: still to bat

The England captain delivered 6 scalps in his initial appearance following July but England encountered an injury concern regarding fast bowler Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up versus the development squad in Perth.

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

Pace bowler Wood, also making his comeback after 9 months out with a knee problem, delivered a scheduled amount of 8 overs before departing the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring problem. He will receive scanning on Friday.

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.

The tourists wanted to bowl first to accumulate bowling time before the initial Test match at the main venue, beginning on November 21st.

In a possible hint towards their opening Test strategy, the tourists fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialist bowlers plus Stokes – and omitted spin bowler Bashir in the Lions.

Bethell failed to press his claim for selection in the Test side, making only two, but Jacks boosted his claim to be called upon later in the tour by swiping 84.

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

England's decision to play a solitary warm-up game against the Lions has been questioned by some former players but the captain responded by calling the critics "has-beens".

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

The captain was excellent in the series against India in the home summer, only to strain himself to injury. He missed the final Test with a shoulder tear.

The captain has not completed a full part in any of the team's previous four series because of various injuries and the tourists' chances of regaining the Ashes are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five matches in the host country.

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

Will Jacks is not expected to feature in the first Test – the team look to have revealed their intentions with the eleven named here. Still, he may have nudged himself in front of the out-of-sorts Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at almost a run a ball.

Prior to the concern over Mark Wood, the five fast bowlers in the team lineup for this match may not have been the attack for the initial match.

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

Though the captain took the scalps, Archer impressed observers. He was lively with the fresh ball and again after lunch, when he caused problems for Jacks.

In the omission of Bashir and with Mark Wood leaving the field, Joe Root was asked to bowl fourteen overs of his spin bowling. It was mediocre fare, conceding 117 at an run rate of more than eight.

Joe Root at least took a wicket in the final session when Fisher somehow hit a full toss to mid-on before Archer dismissed with a bouncer Potts for 53 with the final ball of the day.