Ben Stokes Takes 6 Scalps in England Ashes Warm-up

Practice game, Perth venue (day one of 3)

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

England XI: still to bat

Ben Stokes achieved 6 scalps in his initial appearance since July but the tourists faced an injury concern about fast bowler Wood on the first day of their Test preparation versus England Lions in Western Australia.

Stokes, making his comeback after almost four months out with a shoulder injury, delivered sixteen overs across three bowling spells for his six for fifty-two versus the Lions – all to catches taken on the on-side.

Fast bowler Mark Wood, also making his comeback after 9 months out with a knee problem, delivered a scheduled amount of 8 overs before exiting the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring problem. He will undergo scanning on Friday.

The Wood situation drained the energy out of the day, as the England Lions were dismissed for 382 on a slow track after an automatic toss at the venue.

The tourists aimed to bowl first to get overs in their legs before the initial Test match at Optus Stadium, starting on November 21st.

In a possible hint towards their first-Test plans, the visiting team fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialist bowlers plus Stokes – and omitted spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in the Lions.

Jacob Bethell didn't strengthen his case for selection in the Test side, making just two runs, but Will Jacks boosted his credentials to be called upon during the series by swiping 84.

Ben McKinney, Cox, teenage Rew and Matthew Potts also scored half-centuries.

The team's decision to play a solitary warm-up game against the development squad has been criticized by some former players but the captain hit back by calling the doubters "has-beens".

A low-pressure opening day in front of a smattering of spectators at the ground was certainly a world away from what the team will encounter at a packed Optus Stadium the following 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 shoulder tear.

The captain has not completed a complete participation in any of the team's previous four tours because of different fitness issues and the team's hopes of regaining the Ashes are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five matches in the host country.

He has been bowling at full pace for two months and appeared 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 – England look to have shown their hand with the eleven named here. Nevertheless, he may have moved himself ahead of the out-of-sorts Jacob Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at almost a run a ball.

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

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

Although the captain took the wickets, Jofra Archer impressed observers. He was lively with the new ball and once more after lunch, when he discomforted Jacks.

In the omission of Shoaib Bashir and with Mark Wood departing, Joe Root was required to deliver 14 overs of his spin bowling. It was average performance, conceding 117 runs at an run rate of over eight.

Joe Root at least claimed a scalp in the closing stages when Fisher unexpectedly hit a full toss to mid-on before Archer bounced out Potts for fifty-three with the final ball of the day.