Stokes Claims 6 Scalps in England Test Series Warm-up

Tour game, Perth venue (day one of 3)

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

England XI: awaiting batting

The England captain delivered six wickets in his first action after July but England faced an fitness worry about fast bowler Wood on the first day of their Test preparation versus England Lions in Perth.

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

Fast bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after 9 months out with a knee injury, bowled a scheduled amount of 8 overs before leaving the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring issue. He will receive scanning on Friday.

Wood's injury 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.

The tourists aimed to bowl first to build bowling fitness before the initial Test match at Optus Stadium, beginning on 21 November.

In a possible hint towards their opening Test strategy, the tourists selected an all-pace attack – four specialist bowlers plus Stokes – and omitted off-spinner Bashir in the development squad.

Bethell failed to press his claim for inclusion in the Test team, making just two runs, but Will Jacks boosted his claim to be called upon later in the tour by hitting eighty-four.

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

The team's decision to play a solitary practice match against the Lions has been criticized by some ex-players but the captain hit back by labeling the critics "former players".

A relaxed first day in front of a small crowd of fans at Lilac Hill was certainly a world away from what England will face at a sold-out Optus Stadium the following week.

The captain was superb in the contest against India in the domestic season, only to strain himself to breaking point. He was absent from the last match with a torn shoulder.

The captain has not completed a full part in any of the team's previous four tours because of different fitness issues and the team's chances of winning back the Ashes are significantly reduced if he is absent from any of the five matches in Australia.

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

Jacks is not expected to feature in the opening match – the team look to have revealed their intentions with the eleven named here. Still, he may have nudged himself in front of the out-of-sorts Bethell with his 84, which came at almost a run a ball.

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

Carse missed the opening day because of sickness, with his place going to Tongue. Tongue had Lions opener McKinney caught behind just after lunch.

Though the captain took the scalps, Archer caught the eye. He was energetic with the fresh ball and once more after lunch, when he discomforted Jacks.

In the omission of Bashir and with Wood departing, Joe Root was required to deliver fourteen overs of his spin bowling. It was mediocre fare, costing 117 at an economy of more than eight.

Root at least claimed a wicket in the closing stages when Matt Fisher somehow struck a full toss to the fielder before Jofra Archer bounced out Potts for fifty-three with the last delivery of the day.