Ben Stokes Secures 6 Scalps in England Test Series Preparation Match

Practice game, Lilac Hill (day one of three)

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

National team: yet to bat

The England captain achieved six wickets in his first action since July but the tourists encountered an injury concern regarding fast bowler Wood on the first day of their Test preparation against the development squad in Western Australia.

The England captain, returning after approximately four months out with a shoulder injury, bowled sixteen overs across three bowling spells for his six for fifty-two versus England Lions – each to catches taken on the on-side.

Pace bowler Mark Wood, also making his comeback after nine months out with a knee problem, bowled a scheduled amount of 8 overs before leaving the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring issue. He will have a scan on the following day.

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

The tourists wanted to field first to accumulate bowling time before the initial Test match at the main venue, beginning on 21 November.

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

Jacob Bethell failed to press his case for inclusion in the Test side, making just two runs, but Jacks enhanced his credentials to be selected later in the tour by scoring 84.

Ben McKinney, Jordan Cox, teenage Thomas Rew and Matthew Potts also scored half-centuries.

The team's plan to play a solitary practice match against the development squad has been criticized by some ex-players but Stokes hit back by labeling the critics "former players".

A relaxed opening day in front of a smattering of spectators at the ground was definitely a different experience from what the team will encounter at a packed main 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 full part in any of England's past four tours because of different fitness issues and the tourists' chances of winning back the Ashes are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five matches in the host country.

He has been practicing at full pace 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 presented.

Will Jacks is not expected to play in the first Test – the team look to have shown their hand with the eleven selected here. Still, he may have nudged himself ahead of the struggling Bethell with his 84, which came at almost a run a ball.

Prior to the doubt 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 first day because of sickness, with his position going to Josh 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 lively with the new ball and once more after the interval, when he caused problems for Jacks.

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

Root at least claimed a wicket in the closing stages when Matt Fisher unexpectedly struck a full delivery to mid-on before Jofra Archer bounced out Potts for fifty-three with the final ball of the day.