Ben Stokes Claims Six Wickets in England Test Series Warm-up

Tour game, Lilac Hill (day one of three)

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

England XI: awaiting batting

Ben Stokes achieved 6 scalps in his first action following July but the tourists faced an fitness worry involving fast bowler Wood on the opening day of their Test preparation against the development squad in Western Australia.

Stokes, returning after almost four months out with a shoulder problem, delivered 16 overs across three bowling spells for his 6-52 versus the Lions – each to catches taken on the leg side.

Pace bowler Wood, also making his comeback after 9 months out with a knee problem, bowled a pre-planned number of 8 overs before leaving the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring issue. He will undergo scanning on Friday.

The Wood situation removed the energy out of the day, as the England Lions were dismissed for 382 on a slow track after an uncontested toss at the venue.

England wanted to field first to build bowling fitness before the initial Test match at the main venue, starting on November 21st.

In a potential indication towards their first-Test plans, the tourists selected an all-pace attack – four specialists plus Stokes – and left spin bowler Bashir in the Lions.

Bethell failed to press his claim for inclusion in the Test side, making only two, but Jacks boosted his claim to be called upon during the series by hitting eighty-four.

Ben McKinney, Cox, teenage Rew and Potts also made fifties.

England's plan to play a solitary practice match against the Lions has been questioned by some ex-players but Stokes responded by labeling the critics "former players".

A low-pressure first day in front of a smattering of fans at Lilac Hill was certainly a different experience from what England will encounter at a packed main stadium next week.

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

The skipper has not managed a complete participation in any of England's previous four tours because of different fitness issues and the team's hopes of regaining the series are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five matches in Australia.

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 gifted.

Will Jacks is not expected to play in the opening match – England look to have shown their hand with the XI selected here. Still, he may have moved himself in front of the out-of-sorts Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

Even before the doubt over Wood, the five fast bowlers in the England XI for this match may not have been the attack for the initial match.

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

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

In the omission of Shoaib Bashir and with Mark Wood leaving the field, Root was asked to bowl fourteen overs of his off-spin. It was mediocre fare, costing 117 at an economy of over eight.

Root at least took a wicket in the final session when Matt Fisher unexpectedly hit a full toss to mid-on before Archer bounced out Potts for fifty-three with the final ball of the day.