Ben Stokes Takes 6 Wickets in English Test Series Warm-up

Practice match, Lilac Hill (first day of three)

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

England XI: yet to bat

The England captain delivered six wickets in his initial appearance following July but England faced an fitness worry regarding fast bowler Wood on the opening day of their Test preparation against the development squad in Perth.

The England captain, making his comeback after almost four months away with a shoulder injury, bowled sixteen overs across three bowling spells for his 6-52 against England Lions – all to catches taken on the leg side.

Pace bowler Wood, also making his comeback after nine months out with a knee problem, delivered a scheduled amount of 8 overs before exiting the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring problem. 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 Lilac Hill.

The tourists aimed to field first to build bowling fitness before the initial Test match at Optus Stadium, starting on 21 November.

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

Jacob Bethell failed to press his case for inclusion in the Test team, making only two, but Will Jacks enhanced his credentials to be selected during the series by swiping eighty-four.

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

England's plan to play a single warm-up game against the development squad has been questioned by some former players but Stokes hit back by labeling the doubters "past players".

A low-pressure first day in front of a smattering of spectators at Lilac Hill was certainly a different experience from what England will face at a sold-out Optus Stadium next 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 last match with a torn shoulder.

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

He has been bowling at maximum speed for 60 days and appeared in good condition on Wednesday, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his wickets were presented.

Will Jacks is unlikely to feature in the opening match – the team look to have revealed their hand with the eleven named here. Still, he may have nudged himself in front of the struggling Bethell with his 84, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

Prior to the concern over Mark Wood, the five fast bowlers in the team lineup for this game may not have been the bowling unit for the initial match.

Brydon Carse was absent from the first day because of illness, with his place going to Tongue. Josh Tongue had opening batsman McKinney edging to the keeper just after lunch.

Although the captain took the scalps, Jofra Archer caught the eye. He was lively with the fresh ball and once more after lunch, when he discomforted Will Jacks.

In the omission of Shoaib Bashir and with Mark Wood departing, Joe Root was required to deliver fourteen overs of his spin bowling. It was mediocre fare, conceding 117 at an economy of more than eight.

Root at least claimed a wicket in the closing stages when Fisher somehow hit a full delivery to mid-on before Archer bounced out Potts for 53 with the final ball of the day.