Stokes Claims Six Scalps in England Test Series Warm-up

Practice match, Lilac Hill (first day of 3)

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

National team: still to bat

Ben Stokes delivered six wickets in his initial appearance after July but the tourists encountered an fitness worry involving Mark Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up versus England Lions in Western Australia.

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

Pace bowler Mark Wood, also making his comeback after nine months out with a knee injury, bowled a scheduled amount of eight 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 removed the intensity out of the day, as the Lions were bowled out for 382 on a sluggish pitch after an automatic toss at Lilac Hill.

The tourists aimed to field first to accumulate bowling time before the initial Test match at Optus Stadium, starting 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 omitted off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in the Lions.

Bethell failed to press his claim for selection in the Test side, making just two runs, but Will Jacks enhanced his credentials to be selected during the series by swiping 84.

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

The team's plan to play a solitary warm-up game against the Lions has been questioned by some former players but the captain responded by labeling the doubters "has-beens".

A relaxed opening day in front of a smattering of spectators at Lilac Hill was definitely a different experience from what the team will face at a sold-out Optus Stadium next week.

The captain was excellent in the series against the Indian team in the home summer, only to strain himself to breaking point. 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 various injuries and the team's hopes of winning back the Ashes are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five matches in the host country.

He has been bowling at maximum speed for 60 days and appeared 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 first Test – the team look to have shown their hand with the eleven named here. Still, he may have moved himself in front of the out-of-sorts Bethell with his 84, which came at almost a run a ball.

Even before the concern over Mark Wood, the five seamers in the team lineup for this game may not have been the bowling unit for the first Test.

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

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

In the absence of Shoaib Bashir and with Mark Wood leaving the field, Joe Root was asked to deliver 14 overs of his spin bowling. It was average performance, conceding 117 runs at an economy of over eight.

Joe Root at least took a scalp in the final session when Fisher somehow struck a full delivery to mid-on before Archer bounced out Matthew Potts for 53 with the final ball of the day.