Stokes Claims 6 Scalps in English Test Series Warm-up

Practice game, Lilac Hill (day one of three)

Development squad 382: Jacks 84, McKinney 67; Ben Stokes 6-52

National team: yet to bat

Ben Stokes achieved 6 scalps in his initial appearance since July but the tourists faced an fitness worry involving fast bowler Wood on the first day of their Test preparation versus England Lions in Western Australia.

Stokes, returning after approximately four months away with a shoulder injury, bowled 16 overs across three spells for his six for fifty-two versus the Lions – each to catches on the on-side.

Pace bowler Wood, himself returning after nine months out with a knee injury, bowled a pre-planned number of eight overs before leaving the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring issue. He will receive scanning 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 the venue.

The tourists aimed to bowl first to get overs in their legs before the first Ashes Test at the main venue, starting on 21 November.

In a possible hint towards their opening Test strategy, the visiting team selected an all-pace attack – four specialist bowlers plus the captain – and omitted spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in the development squad.

Bethell failed to press his claim for inclusion in the Test side, making just two runs, but Jacks boosted his claim to be called upon during the series by scoring 84.

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

England's decision to play a solitary practice match against the development squad has been questioned by some former players but Stokes hit back by labeling the critics "has-beens".

A low-pressure opening day in front of a smattering of fans at the ground was definitely a world away from what the team will face at a packed Optus Stadium next week.

Stokes was superb in the series against the Indian team in the domestic season, only to push himself to breaking point. He missed the last match with a torn shoulder.

The skipper has not managed a full part in any of the team's previous four series because of various injuries and the team's chances of regaining the Ashes are significantly reduced if he is absent from any of the five matches in Australia.

He has been bowling at maximum speed for 60 days and looked in fine shape on Wednesday, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his dismissals were presented.

Will Jacks is unlikely to play in the first Test – the team look to have revealed their intentions with the eleven selected here. Nevertheless, he may have nudged himself ahead of the out-of-sorts Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

Prior to the doubt over Mark Wood, the five seamers in the England XI for this match may not have been the attack for the initial match.

Carse was absent from the first day because of sickness, with his place going to Tongue. Josh Tongue had Lions opener Ben McKinney caught behind just after the break.

Though Stokes took the scalps, Jofra Archer caught the eye. He was lively with the new ball and again after lunch, when he discomforted Will Jacks.

In the absence of Shoaib Bashir and with Mark Wood departing, Joe Root was asked to deliver 14 overs of his spin bowling. It was mediocre fare, costing 117 runs at an run rate of more than eight.

Joe Root at least claimed a wicket in the final session when Fisher somehow struck a full toss to mid-on before Archer bounced out Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.