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

Tour match, Lilac Hill (first day of three)

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

National team: awaiting batting

The England captain achieved six wickets in his initial appearance after July but the tourists faced an fitness worry regarding fast bowler Wood on the opening day of their Test preparation versus the development squad in Western Australia.

The England captain, returning after approximately four months out with a shoulder injury, bowled 16 overs across three bowling spells for his 6-52 versus England Lions – all to catches on the leg side.

Pace bowler Wood, himself returning after nine months away with a knee problem, bowled a scheduled amount of eight overs before leaving the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring problem. He will receive scanning on the following day.

Wood's injury sucked the energy out of the day, as the Lions were dismissed for 382 on a slow, low surface after an uncontested toss at Lilac Hill.

The tourists wanted to field 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 visiting team selected an all-pace attack – four specialist bowlers plus Stokes – and left off-spinner Bashir in the development squad.

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

McKinney, Cox, teenage Rew and Potts also made fifties.

The team's decision to play a single warm-up game against the Lions has been criticized by some ex-players but the captain responded by labeling the critics "former players".

A relaxed first day in front of a smattering of spectators at the ground was definitely a different experience from what the team will face at a packed main stadium next week.

Stokes was excellent in the contest against India in the domestic season, only to strain himself to injury. He was absent from the final Test with a shoulder tear.

The skipper has not managed a full part in any of the team's previous four series because of different fitness issues and the team's chances of winning back the series are significantly reduced if he is absent from any of the five Tests in Australia.

He has been bowling at full pace for 60 days and looked in good condition on the match day, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his wickets were presented.

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

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

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

Although Stokes took the scalps, Archer impressed observers. He was energetic with the new ball and once more after the interval, when he caused problems for Jacks.

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

Root at least took a scalp in the final session when Fisher unexpectedly struck a full delivery to the fielder before Archer bounced out Matthew Potts for 53 with the final ball of the day.