Stokes Takes 6 Wickets in English Test Series Warm-up

Practice match, Perth venue (first day of 3)

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

National team: awaiting batting

The England captain achieved six wickets in his first action since July but the tourists faced an fitness worry regarding fast bowler Wood on the first day of their Test preparation versus England Lions in Western Australia.

The England captain, making his comeback after nearly four months away with a shoulder problem, delivered sixteen overs across three bowling spells for his six for fifty-two against England Lions – each to catches on the leg side.

Pace bowler Wood, also making his comeback after 9 months out with a knee injury, delivered a scheduled amount of 8 overs before departing the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring problem. He will receive scanning on Friday.

Wood's injury drained the intensity out of the day, as the England Lions were bowled out for three hundred eighty-two on a sluggish pitch after an uncontested toss at the venue.

England aimed to bowl first to build bowling fitness before the initial Test match at the main venue, starting on 21 November.

In a potential indication towards their opening Test strategy, the tourists fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialists plus the captain – and omitted off-spinner Bashir in the development squad.

Jacob Bethell failed to press his case for inclusion in the Test side, making just two runs, but Will Jacks enhanced his credentials to be called upon during the series by scoring eighty-four.

McKinney, Jordan Cox, teenage Thomas Rew and Matthew Potts also scored 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 doubters "has-beens".

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

The captain was excellent in the contest against India in the home summer, only to strain himself to injury. He missed the last match with a shoulder tear.

The captain has not completed a complete participation in any of England's previous four tours because of different fitness issues and the tourists' hopes of regaining the Ashes are vastly diminished if he is absent from any of the five matches in the host country.

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

Will Jacks is not expected to feature in the first Test – England look to have revealed their intentions with the eleven named here. Nevertheless, he may have moved himself in front of the struggling Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

Prior to the doubt over Wood, the five fast bowlers in the team lineup for this game may not have been the attack for the first Test.

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

Though the captain took the wickets, Jofra Archer impressed observers. He was energetic with the new ball and again after lunch, when he caused problems for Will Jacks.

In the absence of Shoaib Bashir and with Mark Wood departing, Root was asked to bowl 14 overs of his spin bowling. It was average performance, costing 117 at an run rate of over eight.

Root at least took a scalp in the closing stages when Fisher somehow hit a full delivery to the fielder before Archer bounced out Matthew Potts for fifty-three with the last delivery of the day.