Stokes Secures Six Wickets in English Test Series Preparation Match

Practice match, Lilac Hill (first day of three)

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

National team: yet to bat

The England captain delivered 6 scalps in his initial appearance after July but England encountered an injury concern involving fast bowler Wood on the first day of their Test preparation against England Lions in Western Australia.

The England captain, returning after nearly four months out with a shoulder injury, delivered sixteen overs across three spells for his 6-52 versus the Lions – all to catches on the leg side.

Fast bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after 9 months away with a knee injury, delivered a pre-planned number of 8 overs before departing the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring issue. He will receive scanning on the following day.

Wood's injury drained the intensity out of the day, as the Lions were dismissed for 382 on a sluggish pitch after an uncontested toss at Lilac Hill.

England aimed to field first to accumulate bowling time before the first Ashes Test at Optus Stadium, beginning on 21 November.

In a possible hint towards their first-Test plans, the visiting team selected an all-pace attack – four specialist bowlers plus Stokes – and left off-spinner Bashir in the development squad.

Bethell failed to press his case for selection in the Test side, making just two runs, but Will Jacks enhanced his claim to be called upon during the series by scoring eighty-four.

McKinney, Jordan Cox, teenage Rew and Potts also made half-centuries.

England's decision to play a single warm-up game against the Lions has been questioned by some ex-players but the captain responded by calling the critics "has-beens".

A relaxed opening day in front of a small crowd of fans at Lilac Hill was certainly a different experience from what England will encounter at a packed main stadium the following week.

The captain was superb in the contest against India in the domestic season, only to push himself to injury. He missed the last match with a shoulder tear.

The captain has not managed a full part in any of England's previous four series because of various injuries and the team's hopes of winning back the Ashes are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five matches in the host country.

He has been bowling at maximum speed for 60 days and appeared in good condition on Wednesday, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his dismissals were gifted.

Will Jacks is unlikely to feature in the opening match – the team look to have revealed their hand with the XI selected here. Still, he may have moved 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 fast bowlers in the England XI for this match may not have been the attack for the initial match.

Carse was absent from the opening day because of illness, with his place going to Tongue. Tongue had Lions opener McKinney caught behind just after the break.

Although Stokes took the scalps, Jofra Archer caught the eye. He was energetic with the fresh ball and again after lunch, when he caused problems for Will Jacks.

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

Joe Root at least claimed a wicket in the closing stages when Fisher unexpectedly hit a full delivery to the fielder before Archer bounced out Matthew Potts for fifty-three with the final ball of the day.