Stokes Takes 6 Scalps in English Ashes Warm-up

Tour game, Lilac Hill (day one of three)

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

England XI: yet to bat

Ben Stokes produced 6 scalps in his first action after July but the tourists faced an fitness worry involving Mark Wood on the first day of their Test preparation against England Lions in Perth.

Stokes, returning after almost four months out with a shoulder injury, bowled 16 overs across three bowling spells for his six for fifty-two versus England Lions – each to catches taken on the leg side.

Fast bowler Wood, himself returning after 9 months away with a knee problem, bowled a pre-planned number of eight overs before departing 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 intensity out of the day, as the England Lions were dismissed for 382 on a slow, low surface after an uncontested toss at the venue.

England aimed to bowl first to accumulate bowling time before the initial Test match at Optus Stadium, starting on November 21st.

In a potential indication towards their first-Test plans, the visiting team fielded an all-pace attack – four specialist bowlers plus Stokes – and omitted spin bowler 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 hitting eighty-four.

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

The team's plan to play a solitary practice match against the Lions has been criticized by some former players but Stokes responded by labeling the critics "past players".

A low-pressure opening day in front of a smattering of fans at the ground was certainly a world away from what England will face at a packed Optus Stadium the following week.

Stokes was superb in the series against India in the home summer, only to push himself to breaking point. He missed the last match with a shoulder tear.

The skipper has not completed a complete participation in any of the team's past four series because of various injuries and the team's hopes of regaining the Ashes are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five Tests in Australia.

He has been practicing at full pace for two months and appeared in good condition on Wednesday, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his wickets were presented.

Jacks is not expected to feature in the opening match – the team look to have shown their hand with the eleven selected here. Nevertheless, he may have moved himself in front of the out-of-sorts Jacob Bethell with his 84, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

Prior to the concern over Mark Wood, the five seamers in the team lineup for this game may not have been the attack for the initial match.

Carse missed the opening day because of sickness, with his place going to Josh Tongue. Tongue had opening batsman McKinney caught behind just after lunch.

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

In the absence of Bashir and with Mark Wood leaving the field, 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.

Joe Root at least claimed a scalp in the final session when Fisher unexpectedly hit a full toss to mid-on before Archer dismissed with a bouncer Matthew Potts for fifty-three with the final ball of the day.