Stokes Takes Six Scalps in English Test Series Preparation Match

Tour game, Perth venue (day one of 3)

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

National team: yet to bat

The England captain achieved 6 scalps in his initial appearance following July but the tourists faced an injury concern about Mark Wood on the first day of their Test preparation versus England Lions in Perth.

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

Pace bowler Wood, also making his comeback after nine months away with a knee problem, delivered a pre-planned number of eight overs before exiting the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring problem. He will have a scan on the following day.

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

The tourists wanted to bowl first to build bowling fitness before the first Ashes Test at the main venue, starting on 21 November.

In a possible hint towards their first-Test plans, the visiting team fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialists plus the captain – and left off-spinner Bashir in the development squad.

Bethell didn't strengthen his claim for inclusion in the Test side, making only two, but Jacks enhanced his credentials to be selected later in the tour by swiping 84.

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

England's decision to play a single practice match against the development squad has been criticized by some ex-players but Stokes hit back by labeling the critics "has-beens".

A relaxed first day in front of a smattering of fans at the ground was definitely a different experience from what England will face at a sold-out main stadium next week.

The captain was superb in the contest against India in the home summer, only to strain himself to breaking point. He missed the last match with a shoulder tear.

The skipper has not managed a full part in any of England's past four tours because of different fitness issues 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 maximum speed for two months and looked in good condition on the match day, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his wickets were presented.

Will Jacks is unlikely to play in the opening match – England look to have shown their hand with the XI named here. Nevertheless, he may have nudged himself ahead of the out-of-sorts Jacob Bethell with his 84, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

Prior to the concern over Mark Wood, the five seamers in the team lineup for this game may not have been the bowling unit for the initial match.

Brydon Carse was absent from the first day because of sickness, with his position going to Tongue. Tongue had Lions opener McKinney edging to the keeper just after the break.

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

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

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