Ben Stokes Takes 6 Wickets in English Test Series Preparation Match

Practice game, Perth venue (day one of three)

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

England XI: still to bat

Ben Stokes produced six wickets in his initial appearance since July but England faced an injury concern involving Mark Wood on the first day of their Test preparation against England Lions in Perth.

Stokes, making his comeback after nearly four months out with a shoulder injury, delivered sixteen overs across three bowling spells for his 6-52 versus England Lions – each to catches on the leg side.

Pace bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after nine months out with a knee injury, bowled a scheduled amount of eight overs before departing the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring issue. He will have a scan on the following day.

Wood's injury drained the energy out of the day, as the England Lions were dismissed for three hundred eighty-two on a slow track after an uncontested toss at the venue.

England wanted to bowl first to accumulate bowling time 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 fast bowling lineup – four specialists plus the captain – and omitted off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in the development squad.

Bethell failed to press his case for selection in the Test side, making only two, but Jacks boosted his credentials to be selected later in the tour by swiping eighty-four.

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

The team's plan to play a solitary warm-up game against the development squad has been criticized by some former players but Stokes hit back by calling the doubters "has-beens".

A relaxed first day in front of a smattering of spectators at the ground was certainly a different experience from what England will encounter at a packed Optus Stadium the following week.

The captain was superb in the contest against the Indian team in the home summer, only to push himself to breaking point. He missed the last match with a torn shoulder.

The skipper has not managed a complete participation in any of the team's past four tours because of various injuries and the team's hopes of winning back the Ashes are vastly diminished if he misses any of the five Tests in the host country.

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

Jacks is not expected to play in the opening match – England look to have revealed their intentions with the XI named here. Still, he may have moved himself in front of the out-of-sorts Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at almost a run a ball.

Even before the concern over Mark Wood, the five fast bowlers in the England XI for this match may not have been the bowling unit for the initial match.

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

Although the captain took the wickets, Archer impressed observers. He was energetic with the new ball and once more after the interval, when he discomforted Jacks.

In the omission of Bashir and with Wood leaving the field, Root was required to deliver fourteen overs of his spin bowling. It was mediocre fare, costing 117 at an economy of over eight.

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