Ben Stokes Secures 6 Scalps in England Test Series Warm-up

Tour game, Perth venue (day one of three)

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

National team: awaiting batting

The England captain achieved 6 scalps in his initial appearance following July but the tourists faced an fitness worry about fast bowler Wood on the first day of their Test preparation against England Lions in Perth.

The England captain, returning after nearly four months out with a shoulder injury, delivered sixteen overs across three spells for his six for fifty-two versus the Lions – each to catches on the on-side.

Fast bowler Mark Wood, also making his comeback after nine months away with a knee problem, delivered a pre-planned number of eight overs before departing the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring problem. He will receive scanning on Friday.

Wood's injury sucked the intensity out of the day, as the Lions were bowled out for 382 on a slow track after an automatic toss at the venue.

The tourists wanted to bowl first to get overs in their legs before the first Ashes Test 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 Stokes – and omitted off-spinner Bashir in the development squad.

Bethell didn't strengthen his claim for selection in the Test side, making only two, but Will Jacks enhanced his claim to be called upon during the series by swiping eighty-four.

Ben McKinney, Cox, teenage Thomas Rew and Matthew Potts also scored half-centuries.

The team's decision to play a single warm-up game against the Lions has been questioned by some former players but Stokes responded by labeling the critics "past players".

A relaxed opening day in front of a small crowd of fans at the ground was certainly a world away from what England will face at a packed Optus Stadium the following week.

Stokes was superb in the contest against the Indian team in the home summer, only to strain himself to breaking point. He missed the last match with a shoulder tear.

The captain has not completed a complete participation in any of England's past four series because of different fitness issues and the team's chances of winning back the Ashes are vastly diminished if he misses any of the five matches in Australia.

He has been bowling at full pace for 60 days and looked in good condition on Wednesday, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his wickets were gifted.

Will Jacks is unlikely to play in the opening match – the team look to have shown their hand with the XI selected here. Nevertheless, he may have nudged himself ahead of the out-of-sorts Bethell with his 84, 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 missed the first day because of sickness, with his place going to Josh Tongue. Tongue had opening batsman McKinney caught behind just after lunch.

Although Stokes took the scalps, Archer caught the eye. He was lively with the new ball and once more after the interval, when he discomforted Jacks.

In the omission of Shoaib Bashir and with Mark Wood departing, Root was required to bowl fourteen overs of his spin bowling. It was average performance, conceding 117 runs at an run rate of more than eight.

Joe Root at least claimed a scalp in the closing stages when Fisher unexpectedly struck a full delivery to the fielder before Jofra Archer dismissed with a bouncer Matthew Potts for fifty-three with the final ball of the day.