Ben Stokes Takes 6 Wickets in English Test Series Warm-up

Tour game, Lilac Hill (day one of 3)

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

National team: awaiting batting

The England captain produced six wickets in his initial appearance following July but the tourists encountered an injury concern about fast bowler Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up against England Lions in Western Australia.

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

Fast bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after 9 months out with a knee injury, delivered a scheduled amount of 8 overs before departing the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring problem. He will have a scan on the following day.

The Wood situation sucked the energy out of the day, as the Lions were bowled out for three hundred eighty-two on a slow track after an automatic toss at Lilac Hill.

The tourists aimed to field first to build bowling fitness before the initial Test match at Optus Stadium, beginning on November 21st.

In a possible hint towards their first-Test plans, the tourists fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialists plus Stokes – and omitted off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in the Lions.

Jacob Bethell didn't strengthen his case for inclusion in the Test side, making just two runs, but Jacks enhanced his credentials to be called upon later in the tour by scoring 84.

McKinney, Jordan Cox, 17-year-old Rew and Matthew Potts also scored half-centuries.

The team's decision to play a single practice match against the development squad has been questioned by some former players but Stokes responded by calling the critics "has-beens".

A low-pressure first day in front of a small crowd of fans at Lilac Hill was definitely a different experience from what the team will face at a packed Optus Stadium the following week.

The captain was superb in the contest against India in the home summer, only to strain himself to injury. He missed the final Test with a torn shoulder.

The captain has not managed a complete participation in any of England's past four tours because of various injuries and the tourists' hopes of regaining the series are vastly diminished if he is absent from any of the five Tests in Australia.

He has been practicing at full pace for two months and appeared in good condition on Wednesday, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his dismissals were gifted.

Will Jacks is unlikely to play in the first Test – the team look to have revealed their hand with the eleven selected here. Still, he may have moved himself in front of the struggling Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at almost a run a ball.

Prior to the doubt over Wood, the five seamers in the team lineup for this game may not have been the attack for the initial match.

Brydon Carse missed the opening day because of illness, with his position going to Tongue. Josh Tongue had Lions opener McKinney caught behind just after the break.

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

In the absence of Bashir and with Wood leaving the field, Joe Root was required to bowl fourteen overs of his spin bowling. It was average performance, conceding 117 runs at an run rate of over eight.

Joe Root at least took a wicket in the closing stages when Fisher unexpectedly struck a full toss to mid-on before Archer bounced out Matthew Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.