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

Tour game, Lilac Hill (day one of three)

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

England XI: yet to bat

The England captain achieved 6 scalps in his initial appearance following July but England faced an fitness worry involving fast bowler Wood on the first day of their Test preparation against the development squad in Western Australia.

Stokes, making his comeback after approximately four months away with a shoulder injury, delivered sixteen overs across three spells for his 6-52 against the Lions – each to catches taken on the on-side.

Fast bowler Wood, himself returning after 9 months out with a knee problem, bowled a scheduled amount of 8 overs before leaving the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring issue. He will undergo scanning on Friday.

Wood's injury removed the intensity out of the day, as the Lions were dismissed for three hundred eighty-two on a slow track after an uncontested toss at Lilac Hill.

The tourists aimed to bowl first to accumulate bowling time before the initial Test match at the main venue, beginning on November 21st.

In a potential indication towards their opening Test strategy, the visiting team selected an fast bowling lineup – four specialists plus Stokes – and left spin bowler Bashir in the Lions.

Jacob Bethell failed to press his case for selection in the Test team, making just two runs, but Jacks enhanced his claim to be selected later in the tour by hitting 84.

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

England's plan to play a solitary practice match against the development squad has been questioned by some ex-players but the captain hit back by labeling the doubters "has-beens".

A relaxed first day in front of a small crowd of spectators at the ground was certainly a different experience from what England will face at a packed main stadium the following week.

The captain was excellent in the contest against the Indian team in the home summer, only to strain himself to injury. He was absent from the final Test with a shoulder tear.

The captain has not completed a complete participation in any of the team's past four tours because of different fitness issues and the team's hopes of regaining 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 the match day, 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 revealed their intentions with the eleven selected here. Nevertheless, he may have moved 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 seamers in the team lineup for this match may not have been the bowling unit for the initial match.

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

Although the captain took the scalps, Jofra Archer impressed observers. He was lively with the new ball and again after the interval, when he discomforted Jacks.

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

Joe Root at least took a wicket in the final session when Fisher unexpectedly struck a full delivery to the fielder before Jofra Archer dismissed with a bouncer Matthew Potts for fifty-three with the last delivery of the day.