Ben Stokes Takes Six Wickets in England Test Series Preparation Match

Practice match, Perth venue (first day of three)

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

England XI: awaiting batting

The England captain delivered 6 scalps in his initial appearance following July but England encountered an injury concern regarding fast bowler Wood on the first day of their Test preparation versus the development squad in Western Australia.

The England captain, making his comeback after almost four months away with a shoulder injury, delivered 16 overs across three spells for his 6-52 versus England Lions – each to catches taken on the leg side.

Pace bowler Wood, himself returning after 9 months out with a knee injury, delivered a scheduled amount of 8 overs before exiting the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring issue. He will undergo scanning on the following day.

The Wood situation removed the energy out of the day, as the Lions were bowled out for three hundred eighty-two on a slow, low surface after an automatic toss at the venue.

England aimed to bowl first to build bowling fitness before the first Ashes Test at the main venue, beginning on 21 November.

In a potential indication towards their first-Test plans, the tourists fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialists plus the captain – and left spin bowler Bashir in the development squad.

Bethell failed to press his claim for inclusion in the Test team, making only two, but Jacks boosted his credentials to be selected later in the tour by hitting 84.

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

The team's plan to play a solitary warm-up game against the development squad has been criticized by some former players but the captain hit back by calling the doubters "former players".

A relaxed opening day in front of a small crowd of fans at the ground was definitely a different experience from what the team will encounter at a sold-out Optus Stadium the following week.

The captain was superb in the series against the Indian team in the home summer, only to push himself to injury. He was absent from the last match with a torn shoulder.

The skipper has not completed a complete participation in any of the team's past four tours because of various injuries and the team's chances of regaining the Ashes are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five matches in Australia.

He has been bowling at full pace for two months and looked in fine shape on the match day, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his dismissals were presented.

Will Jacks is unlikely to feature in the opening match – the team look to have revealed their hand with the eleven selected here. Nevertheless, he may have nudged himself ahead of the struggling Jacob Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

Prior to the concern over Wood, the five fast bowlers in the England XI for this match may not have been the bowling unit for the initial match.

Brydon Carse missed the first day because of illness, with his position going to Tongue. Tongue had opening batsman Ben McKinney edging to the keeper just after lunch.

Although the captain took the wickets, Archer caught the eye. He was energetic with the new ball and again after the interval, when he discomforted Jacks.

In the absence of Bashir and with Mark Wood leaving the field, Root was asked to deliver 14 overs of his spin bowling. It was average performance, costing 117 at an run rate of over eight.

Joe Root at least took a scalp in the final session when Matt Fisher somehow struck a full delivery to the fielder before Jofra Archer bounced out Matthew Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.