Ben Stokes Claims Six Scalps in England Test Series Warm-up

Practice game, Lilac Hill (first day of 3)

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

England XI: still to bat

Ben Stokes achieved 6 scalps in his initial appearance following July but the tourists faced an injury concern regarding fast bowler Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up versus the development squad in Western Australia.

The England captain, making his comeback after almost four months away with a shoulder problem, delivered sixteen overs across three spells for his six for fifty-two against the Lions – all to catches taken on the leg side.

Fast bowler Wood, also making his comeback after 9 months away with a knee injury, delivered a scheduled amount of 8 overs before leaving the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring issue. He will undergo scanning on the following day.

The Wood situation removed the energy out of the day, as the Lions were dismissed for 382 on a sluggish pitch after an uncontested toss at the venue.

The tourists aimed to field first to get overs in their legs before the first Ashes Test at Optus Stadium, starting on November 21st.

In a potential indication towards their first-Test plans, the visiting team fielded an all-pace attack – four specialist bowlers plus the captain – and left spin bowler Bashir in the development squad.

Jacob Bethell failed to press his case for inclusion in the Test side, making just two runs, but Jacks enhanced his claim to be selected later in the tour by hitting eighty-four.

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

England's plan to play a single warm-up game against the Lions has been questioned by some former players but Stokes responded by labeling the doubters "has-beens".

A low-pressure first day in front of a smattering of fans at Lilac Hill was definitely a world away from what England will encounter at a packed main stadium next week.

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

The skipper has not managed a complete participation in any of England's previous four series because of different fitness issues and the team's hopes of winning back the Ashes are significantly reduced if he is absent from any of the five matches in Australia.

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

Will Jacks is unlikely to play in the first Test – England look to have shown their hand with the eleven selected here. Nevertheless, 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 Wood, the five fast bowlers in the England XI for this match may not have been the attack for the initial match.

Carse missed the opening day because of illness, with his place going to Tongue. Tongue had Lions opener Ben McKinney edging to the keeper just after lunch.

Though the captain took the wickets, Jofra Archer caught the eye. He was energetic with the new ball and again after the interval, when he caused problems for Jacks.

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

Joe Root at least claimed a scalp in the closing stages when Fisher unexpectedly hit a full toss to the fielder before Archer dismissed with a bouncer Potts for 53 with the final ball of the day.