Ben Stokes Secures Six Scalps in English Test Series Warm-up

Tour match, Lilac Hill (day one of 3)

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

National team: yet to bat

The England captain delivered 6 scalps in his first action following July but England faced an injury concern involving fast bowler Wood on the first day of their Test preparation against England Lions in Perth.

The England captain, making his comeback after nearly four months out with a shoulder problem, bowled 16 overs across three bowling spells for his six for fifty-two against the Lions – all to catches taken on the on-side.

Fast bowler Mark Wood, also making his comeback after nine months away with a knee problem, bowled a pre-planned number of 8 overs before leaving the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring problem. He will receive scanning on the following day.

The Wood situation removed the energy out of the day, as the Lions were dismissed for three hundred eighty-two on a sluggish pitch after an automatic toss at the venue.

The tourists aimed to bowl first to get overs in their legs before the first Ashes Test at Optus Stadium, starting on 21 November.

In a possible hint towards their opening Test strategy, the visiting team selected an all-pace attack – four specialist bowlers plus Stokes – and left off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in the Lions.

Jacob Bethell didn't strengthen his case for inclusion in the Test side, making only two, but Jacks boosted his claim to be called upon later in the tour by hitting 84.

McKinney, Jordan Cox, teenage Rew and Matthew Potts also scored fifties.

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

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 sold-out main stadium the following week.

Stokes was superb in the contest against the Indian team in the domestic season, only to push himself to breaking point. He was absent from the last match with a torn shoulder.

The skipper has not managed a complete participation in any of England's past four series because of various injuries and the team's hopes of winning back the series are vastly diminished if he misses any of the five matches in Australia.

He has been practicing at maximum speed for two months and looked 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 feature in the first Test – England look to have shown their hand with the XI named here. Still, he may have nudged himself ahead of the struggling Bethell with his 84, which came at almost a run a ball.

Prior to the concern over Wood, the five fast bowlers in the England XI for this match may not have been the bowling unit for the initial match.

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

Although Stokes took the wickets, Jofra Archer impressed observers. He was energetic with the new ball and again after lunch, when he discomforted Will Jacks.

In the absence of Bashir and with Wood leaving the field, Root was required to deliver fourteen overs of his spin bowling. It was mediocre fare, conceding 117 runs at an run rate of over eight.

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