Stokes Claims 6 Scalps in England Test Series Preparation Match

Tour game, Perth venue (first day of 3)

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

National team: awaiting batting

The England captain produced 6 scalps in his first action following July but the tourists faced an fitness worry regarding fast bowler Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up versus the development squad in Western Australia.

The England captain, making his comeback after nearly four months away with a shoulder problem, bowled 16 overs across three spells for his six for fifty-two versus England Lions – all to catches taken on the on-side.

Pace bowler Mark Wood, also making his comeback after 9 months out with a knee injury, bowled a scheduled amount of eight overs before exiting the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring issue. He will undergo scanning on the following day.

The Wood situation drained the energy out of the day, as the Lions were bowled out for 382 on a slow, low surface after an uncontested toss at the venue.

The tourists wanted to bowl first to build bowling fitness before the first Ashes Test at the main venue, starting on November 21st.

In a potential indication towards their opening Test strategy, the visiting team selected an all-pace attack – four specialists plus Stokes – and left off-spinner Bashir in the Lions.

Bethell failed to press his case for selection in the Test side, making only two, but Will Jacks enhanced his claim to be selected later in the tour by hitting 84.

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

England's decision to play a solitary practice match against the development squad has been questioned by some former players but the captain hit back by labeling the critics "former players".

A low-pressure first day in front of a smattering of spectators at the ground was certainly a world away from what England will face at a sold-out main stadium the following week.

Stokes was excellent in the contest against India in the domestic season, only to push himself to breaking point. He missed the last match with a shoulder tear.

The captain has not managed a full part in any of the team's previous four series because of different fitness issues and the tourists' hopes of regaining the Ashes are vastly diminished if he misses any of the five Tests in the host country.

He has been bowling at full pace for two months 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 play in the opening match – England look to have shown their hand with the eleven selected here. Still, he may have nudged himself in front of the struggling Jacob Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

Even before the doubt over Wood, the five fast bowlers in the team lineup for this match may not have been the bowling unit for the first Test.

Brydon Carse was absent from the opening day because of illness, with his position going to Josh Tongue. Josh Tongue had opening batsman Ben McKinney caught behind just after lunch.

Though the captain took the wickets, Jofra Archer caught the eye. He was lively with the fresh ball and again after lunch, when he caused problems for Will Jacks.

In the omission of Shoaib Bashir and with Mark Wood departing, Root was required to deliver 14 overs of his off-spin. It was average performance, costing 117 runs at an run rate of over eight.

Root at least claimed a wicket in the closing stages when Matt Fisher somehow struck a full delivery to mid-on before Archer dismissed with a bouncer Matthew Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.