Ben Stokes Takes 6 Scalps in English Test Series Preparation Match

Practice game, Perth venue (first day of 3)

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

England XI: yet to bat

Ben Stokes achieved 6 scalps in his return to play following July but England faced an fitness worry regarding Mark Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up versus England Lions in Perth.

Stokes, making his comeback after nearly four months away with a shoulder injury, delivered 16 overs across three spells for his six for fifty-two against England Lions – all to catches on the on-side.

Pace bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after nine months away with a knee injury, delivered a scheduled amount of eight overs before departing the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring problem. He will undergo scanning on the following day.

Wood's injury removed the intensity out of the day, as the England Lions were bowled out for three hundred eighty-two on a slow track after an automatic toss at the venue.

The tourists aimed to field first to build bowling fitness before the initial Test match at the main venue, beginning on November 21st.

In a possible hint towards their first-Test plans, the visiting team fielded an all-pace attack – four specialists plus the captain – and omitted spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in the Lions.

Jacob Bethell didn't strengthen his case for selection in the Test side, making only two, but Jacks boosted his credentials to be selected during the series by hitting eighty-four.

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

England's decision to play a solitary practice match against the development squad has been criticized by some former players but Stokes responded by labeling the critics "has-beens".

A low-pressure first day in front of a smattering of spectators at the ground was certainly a different experience from what the team will face at a packed Optus Stadium the following week.

The captain was excellent in the series against India in the home summer, only to push himself to injury. He missed the last match with a shoulder tear.

The skipper has not managed a complete participation 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 the host country.

He has been bowling at maximum speed for two months and looked in good condition on the match day, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his wickets were gifted.

Will Jacks is unlikely to feature in the first Test – England look to have revealed their intentions with the eleven named here. Still, he may have nudged himself ahead of the out-of-sorts Jacob Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

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

Carse was absent from the first day because of sickness, with his place going to Josh Tongue. Josh Tongue had opening batsman McKinney edging to the keeper just after the break.

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

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

Root at least took a wicket in the final session when Fisher somehow hit a full delivery to the fielder before Jofra Archer dismissed with a bouncer Matthew Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.