Stokes Claims Six Wickets in England Test Series Preparation Match

Tour game, Perth venue (first day of 3)

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

National team: still to bat

The England captain delivered 6 scalps in his first action since July but the tourists encountered an injury concern about fast bowler Wood on the first day of their Test preparation against the development squad in Western Australia.

The England captain, making his comeback after approximately four months out with a shoulder injury, delivered sixteen overs across three spells for his six for fifty-two against the Lions – all to catches on the on-side.

Fast bowler Wood, himself returning after nine months out with a knee problem, 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.

Wood's injury drained the energy out of the day, as the Lions were bowled out for 382 on a slow track after an automatic toss at Lilac Hill.

England wanted to bowl first to get overs in their legs before the initial Test match at Optus Stadium, starting on November 21st.

In a potential indication towards their opening Test strategy, the tourists fielded an all-pace attack – four specialist bowlers plus Stokes – and omitted spin bowler Bashir in the Lions.

Bethell didn't strengthen his claim for selection in the Test team, making just two runs, but Jacks enhanced his claim to be called upon later in the tour by swiping 84.

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

England's plan to play a solitary practice match against the Lions has been criticized by some former players but the captain responded by calling the critics "has-beens".

A relaxed first day in front of a smattering of fans at Lilac Hill was certainly a different experience from what the team will face at a packed Optus Stadium the following week.

The captain was excellent in the series against India in the domestic season, only to push himself to breaking point. He missed the last match with a shoulder tear.

The skipper has not managed a complete participation in any of the team's previous four tours because of various injuries and the team's chances of winning back the Ashes are significantly reduced if he is absent from any of the five Tests in the host country.

He has been bowling at maximum speed for 60 days 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.

Jacks is unlikely to feature in the opening match – England look to have revealed their intentions with the eleven selected here. Still, he may have moved himself in front of the struggling Jacob Bethell with his 84, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

Even before the concern over Wood, the five fast bowlers in the team lineup 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 Ben McKinney edging to the keeper just after lunch.

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

In the absence of Shoaib Bashir and with Wood leaving the field, Joe Root was asked to bowl fourteen overs of his off-spin. It was mediocre fare, conceding 117 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 the fielder before Archer bounced out Potts for fifty-three with the last delivery of the day.