Ben Stokes Takes Six Scalps in English Test Series Preparation Match

Practice match, Perth venue (day one of three)

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

National team: still to bat

The England captain produced six wickets in his first action following July but the tourists faced an fitness worry regarding fast bowler Wood on the opening day of their Test preparation versus England Lions in Western Australia.

The England captain, returning after almost four months out with a shoulder injury, bowled 16 overs across three bowling spells for his 6-52 against the Lions – each to catches taken on the on-side.

Pace bowler Wood, himself returning after nine months away with a knee problem, bowled a pre-planned number of eight overs before exiting the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring problem. He will undergo scanning on Friday.

The Wood situation removed the energy out of the day, as the 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 November 21st.

In a potential indication towards their first-Test plans, the visiting team selected an fast bowling lineup – four specialists plus the captain – and omitted off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in the Lions.

Bethell didn't strengthen his claim for inclusion in the Test side, making only two, but Jacks enhanced his claim to be selected during the series by swiping 84.

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

The team's plan to play a solitary practice match against the Lions has been criticized by some ex-players but Stokes responded by calling the critics "past players".

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

Stokes was excellent in the contest against India in the home summer, only to push himself to breaking point. He missed the last match with a shoulder tear.

The skipper has not completed a full part in any of England's past four series because of different fitness issues and the team's hopes of regaining the series are vastly diminished if he is absent from any of the five Tests in Australia.

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

Will Jacks is not expected to play in the opening match – the team look to have shown their intentions with the eleven named here. Still, he may have moved himself in front 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 seamers in the team lineup for this match may not have been the bowling unit for the initial match.

Carse was absent from the first day because of sickness, with his place going to Tongue. Tongue had opening batsman McKinney edging to the keeper just after the break.

Though the captain took the wickets, Archer impressed observers. He was lively with the fresh ball and once more after the interval, when he caused problems for Jacks.

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

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