Stokes Secures Six Wickets in England Test Series Warm-up

Practice match, Perth venue (first day of 3)

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

England XI: yet to bat

The England captain delivered 6 scalps in his initial appearance after July but the tourists faced an injury concern regarding Mark Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up against the development squad in Western Australia.

The England captain, making his comeback after nearly four months out with a shoulder injury, delivered 16 overs across three spells for his 6-52 versus England Lions – each to catches on the on-side.

Pace bowler Mark 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 afternoon session because of a hamstring problem. He will receive scanning on the following day.

Wood's injury drained the intensity out of the day, as the England Lions were dismissed for three hundred eighty-two on a sluggish pitch after an uncontested toss at Lilac Hill.

England aimed to bowl first to build bowling fitness before the first Ashes Test at Optus Stadium, beginning on November 21st.

In a potential indication towards their opening Test strategy, the tourists selected an fast bowling lineup – four specialists plus the captain – and omitted spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in the development squad.

Jacob Bethell didn't strengthen his claim for selection in the Test team, making just two runs, but Jacks enhanced his credentials to be called upon later in the tour by scoring eighty-four.

Ben McKinney, Cox, 17-year-old Rew and Matthew Potts also made fifties.

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

A low-pressure first day in front of a smattering of spectators at the ground was definitely a world away from what England will encounter at a packed Optus Stadium the following week.

The captain was excellent in the series against the Indian team in the domestic season, only to strain himself to injury. He was absent from the last match with a shoulder tear.

The skipper has not managed a full part in any of England's past four series because of various injuries and the team's chances of winning back the series are significantly reduced if he is absent from any of the five Tests 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 dismissals were gifted.

Jacks is not expected to feature in the first Test – the team look to have shown their intentions with the XI selected here. Nevertheless, he may have nudged himself ahead of the struggling Bethell with his 84, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

Prior to the concern over Mark 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 sickness, with his position going to Josh Tongue. Josh Tongue had Lions opener Ben McKinney edging to the keeper just after the break.

Although the captain took the wickets, Archer caught the eye. He was lively with the fresh ball and again after lunch, when he discomforted Jacks.

In the absence of Bashir and with Wood departing, Joe Root was required to deliver fourteen overs of his off-spin. It was mediocre fare, conceding 117 at an run rate of over eight.

Root at least claimed a wicket in the final session when Matt Fisher unexpectedly hit a full delivery to mid-on before Jofra Archer bounced out Matthew Potts for 53 with the final ball of the day.