Ben Stokes Takes Six Wickets in England Test Series Preparation Match

Tour game, Lilac Hill (first day of three)

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

England XI: awaiting batting

Ben Stokes achieved six wickets in his initial appearance following July but England encountered an fitness worry involving fast bowler Wood on the first day of their Test preparation against the development squad in Perth.

Stokes, returning after almost four months away with a shoulder injury, bowled sixteen overs across three spells for his six for fifty-two against England Lions – each to catches on the on-side.

Pace bowler Mark Wood, also making his comeback after 9 months out with a knee injury, delivered a scheduled amount of 8 overs before departing the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring issue. He will have a scan on the following day.

The Wood situation sucked the energy out of the day, as the Lions were dismissed for three hundred eighty-two on a slow, low surface after an uncontested toss at Lilac Hill.

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

In a potential indication towards their first-Test plans, the visiting team fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialist bowlers plus the captain – 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 enhanced his claim to be selected during the series by hitting 84.

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

The team's plan to play a single practice match against the Lions 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 Lilac Hill was definitely a different experience from what the team will face at a sold-out main stadium next week.

Stokes was superb in the series against India in the home summer, only to push himself to breaking point. He was absent from the final Test with a torn shoulder.

The captain has not managed a complete participation in any of the team's previous four series because of various injuries and the tourists' hopes of winning back the Ashes are vastly diminished if he is absent from any of the five matches in Australia.

He has been practicing at full pace for two months and appeared in fine shape on the match day, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his wickets were presented.

Will Jacks is not expected to feature in the opening match – England look to have shown their hand with the XI selected here. Nevertheless, he may have moved himself in front of the out-of-sorts Bethell with his 84, which came at almost a run a ball.

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

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

Although the captain took the scalps, Jofra Archer caught the eye. He was energetic with the new ball and once more after the interval, when he caused problems for Jacks.

In the absence of Bashir and with Mark Wood departing, Joe Root was required to bowl fourteen overs of his spin bowling. It was average performance, costing 117 at an economy of more than eight.

Joe Root at least took a wicket in the final session when Fisher somehow hit a full toss to the fielder before Archer dismissed with a bouncer Matthew Potts for fifty-three with the final ball of the day.