Ben Stokes Takes Six Wickets in England Test Series Preparation Match

Tour match, Lilac Hill (first day of three)

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

England XI: awaiting batting

Ben Stokes delivered 6 scalps in his initial appearance following July but the tourists encountered an injury concern regarding fast bowler Wood on the opening day of their Test preparation versus the development squad in Perth.

Stokes, making his comeback after nearly four months away with a shoulder injury, bowled 16 overs across three bowling spells for his six for fifty-two against the Lions – each to catches taken on the leg side.

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

The Wood situation removed the intensity out of the day, as the England Lions were dismissed for 382 on a slow, low surface after an automatic toss at Lilac Hill.

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

In a possible hint towards their first-Test plans, the visiting team fielded an all-pace attack – four specialists plus the captain – and omitted spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in the development squad.

Jacob Bethell didn't strengthen his claim for inclusion in the Test side, making only two, but Will Jacks boosted his credentials to be called upon during the series by hitting eighty-four.

Ben McKinney, Cox, 17-year-old Thomas Rew and Matthew Potts also scored 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 labeling the doubters "has-beens".

A low-pressure first day in front of a small crowd of spectators at the ground was definitely a world away from what the team will face at a packed Optus Stadium the following week.

Stokes was excellent in the series against the Indian team in the domestic season, only to push himself to injury. He was absent from the final Test with a torn shoulder.

The captain has not managed a full part in any of England's past four tours because of various injuries and the tourists' chances of winning back the series are vastly diminished if he is absent from any of the five Tests in the host country.

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

Jacks is unlikely to play in the opening match – the team look to have revealed their intentions with the eleven selected here. Still, he may have moved himself ahead of the struggling 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 opening day because of illness, with his position going to Josh Tongue. Tongue had opening batsman McKinney edging to the keeper just after the break.

Although Stokes took the wickets, Archer caught the eye. He was energetic with the fresh ball and once more after lunch, when he caused problems for Jacks.

In the omission of Bashir and with Mark Wood departing, Joe Root was required to bowl 14 overs of his spin bowling. It was mediocre fare, costing 117 runs at an economy of over eight.

Joe Root at least took a scalp in the closing stages when Matt Fisher somehow struck a full delivery to the fielder before Archer bounced out Matthew Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.