Stokes Claims 6 Wickets in English Test Series Preparation Match

Tour game, Lilac Hill (day one of three)

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

National team: yet to bat

The England captain produced 6 scalps in his initial appearance since July but England encountered an fitness worry regarding fast bowler Wood on the first day of their Test preparation against the development squad in Perth.

Stokes, making his comeback after nearly four months away with a shoulder problem, delivered 16 overs across three bowling spells for his six for fifty-two versus the Lions – each to catches on the on-side.

Fast bowler Wood, also making his comeback after nine months away with a knee problem, bowled a scheduled amount of 8 overs before leaving the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring issue. He will undergo scanning on Friday.

Wood's injury removed the intensity out of the day, as the Lions were dismissed for 382 on a sluggish pitch after an automatic toss at Lilac Hill.

England aimed to bowl first to build bowling fitness before the first Ashes Test 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 didn't strengthen his claim for selection in the Test side, making just two runs, but Jacks boosted his credentials to be called upon during the series by scoring 84.

Ben McKinney, Cox, teenage Thomas Rew and Matthew Potts also scored fifties.

The team's plan to play a single practice match against the development squad has been questioned by some former players but the captain responded by labeling the critics "former players".

A low-pressure first day in front of a smattering of spectators at Lilac Hill was certainly a different experience from what the team will face at a packed main stadium the following week.

Stokes was superb in the series against the Indian team in the domestic season, only to push himself to breaking point. He was absent from the last match with a shoulder tear.

The skipper has not managed a complete participation in any of England's previous four tours because of various injuries and the tourists' chances of regaining the series are vastly diminished if he is absent from 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 gifted.

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

Even before the concern over Mark Wood, the five seamers in the team lineup for this match may not have been the bowling unit for the first Test.

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

Though the captain took the scalps, Jofra Archer impressed observers. He was energetic with the new ball and again after lunch, when he discomforted Jacks.

In the omission of Shoaib Bashir and with Mark Wood leaving the field, Root was asked to bowl fourteen overs of his off-spin. It was average performance, costing 117 runs at an run rate of more than eight.

Root at least took a wicket in the final session when Fisher unexpectedly struck a full toss to mid-on before Jofra Archer dismissed with a bouncer Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.