Stokes Secures Six Wickets in England Test Series Warm-up

Tour game, Lilac Hill (first day of 3)

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

National team: awaiting batting

The England captain delivered six wickets in his return to play following July but the tourists faced an injury concern involving fast bowler Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up against England Lions in Western Australia.

Stokes, making his comeback after approximately four months out with a shoulder injury, bowled 16 overs across three spells for his 6-52 against England Lions – all to catches on the leg side.

Pace bowler Mark Wood, also making his comeback after nine months away 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 Friday.

Wood's injury sucked 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 wanted to field first to build bowling fitness before the first Ashes Test at the main venue, beginning on 21 November.

In a possible hint towards their opening Test strategy, the tourists fielded an all-pace attack – four specialists plus Stokes – and left off-spinner Bashir in the Lions.

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

McKinney, Jordan Cox, 17-year-old Rew and Matthew Potts also made half-centuries.

England's decision to play a solitary warm-up game against the Lions has been questioned by some ex-players but Stokes hit back by labeling the doubters "has-beens".

A low-pressure first day in front of a smattering of fans at Lilac Hill was definitely a different experience from what the team will encounter at a packed Optus 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 missed the final Test with a shoulder tear.

The captain has not completed a complete participation in any of the team's previous four series because of different fitness issues and the tourists' chances of regaining the series are vastly diminished if he is absent from any of the five Tests in the host country.

He has been bowling at maximum speed for 60 days and appeared 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 play in the first Test – the team look to have revealed their hand with the eleven selected here. Nevertheless, he may have nudged himself ahead of the out-of-sorts Jacob Bethell with his 84, which came at almost a run a ball.

Prior to the doubt over Mark Wood, the five fast bowlers in the team lineup for this game may not have been the attack for the first Test.

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

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

In the absence of Shoaib Bashir and with Wood departing, Root was asked to deliver fourteen overs of his off-spin. It was mediocre fare, conceding 117 runs at an run rate of over eight.

Root at least claimed a wicket in the final session when Matt Fisher somehow struck a full delivery to mid-on before Jofra Archer bounced out Potts for fifty-three with the final ball of the day.