Stokes Claims Six Scalps in English Test Series Preparation Match

Tour match, Lilac Hill (first day of 3)

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

England XI: yet to bat

The England captain achieved 6 scalps in his return to play since July but England faced an injury concern about fast bowler Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up versus the development squad in Western Australia.

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

Fast bowler Mark Wood, also making his comeback after 9 months away with a knee problem, delivered a scheduled amount of 8 overs before departing the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring problem. He will undergo scanning on Friday.

The Wood situation sucked the energy out of the day, as the England Lions were dismissed for 382 on a slow track after an uncontested toss at Lilac Hill.

The tourists aimed to field first to build bowling fitness before the first Ashes Test at Optus Stadium, starting on November 21st.

In a possible hint towards their first-Test plans, the tourists selected an all-pace attack – 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 team, making just two runs, but Will Jacks boosted his credentials to be selected later in the tour by hitting eighty-four.

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

England's decision to play a single warm-up game against the development squad has been questioned by some ex-players but Stokes hit back by labeling the doubters "past players".

A low-pressure opening day in front of a small crowd of spectators at Lilac Hill was certainly a world away from what the team will encounter at a sold-out main stadium next week.

Stokes was superb in the series against India in the domestic season, only to push himself to breaking point. He was absent from the last match with a shoulder tear.

The skipper has not managed a complete participation in any of England's previous four tours because of different fitness issues and the team's hopes of winning back the series are vastly diminished if he misses any of the five Tests in Australia.

He has been practicing 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 wickets were presented.

Will Jacks is unlikely to play in the first Test – England look to have revealed their intentions with the XI named here. Nevertheless, he may have moved himself ahead of the struggling Bethell with his 84, which came at almost a run a ball.

Prior to the concern over Mark Wood, the five fast bowlers in the team lineup for this game may not have been the attack for the first Test.

Brydon Carse was absent from the opening day because of sickness, with his position going to Josh Tongue. Josh Tongue had Lions opener Ben McKinney edging to the keeper just after the break.

Although the captain took the wickets, Archer caught the eye. He was lively with the fresh ball and once more after the interval, when he caused problems for Will Jacks.

In the omission of Bashir and with Mark Wood departing, Joe Root was asked to deliver 14 overs of his off-spin. It was average performance, conceding 117 runs at an economy of more than eight.

Root at least claimed a wicket in the closing stages when Matt Fisher unexpectedly hit a full toss to the fielder before Archer bounced out Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.