Stokes Takes Six Scalps in English Test Series Warm-up

Practice game, Perth venue (day one of three)

England Lions 382: Will Jacks 84, Ben McKinney 67; Stokes 6-52

England XI: still to bat

Ben Stokes achieved 6 scalps in his first action since July but England faced an injury concern regarding fast bowler Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up versus the development squad in Western Australia.

The England captain, returning after approximately four months away with a shoulder injury, delivered 16 overs across three bowling spells for his 6-52 against England Lions – each to catches on the on-side.

Pace bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after 9 months out with a knee problem, bowled a pre-planned number of eight overs before leaving the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring issue. He will receive scanning on Friday.

Wood's injury sucked the energy out of the day, as the England Lions were bowled out for three hundred eighty-two on a sluggish pitch after an automatic toss at Lilac Hill.

The tourists wanted to field first to get overs in their legs before the first Ashes Test at the main venue, starting on November 21st.

In a possible hint towards their first-Test plans, the tourists selected an all-pace attack – four specialists plus Stokes – and left spin bowler Bashir in the development squad.

Bethell didn't strengthen his claim for selection in the Test side, making only two, but Jacks boosted his credentials to be selected during the series by hitting 84.

Ben McKinney, Jordan Cox, 17-year-old Rew and Matthew Potts also scored half-centuries.

England's decision to play a single warm-up game against the Lions has been questioned by some ex-players but the captain responded by labeling the doubters "former players".

A low-pressure opening day in front of a smattering of fans at Lilac Hill was certainly a world away from what the team will face at a packed main stadium next week.

The captain was superb in the contest against India in the home summer, only to strain himself to injury. He missed the final Test with a torn shoulder.

The skipper has not managed a complete participation in any of the team'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 Tests in the host country.

He has been bowling at full pace for two months and looked in fine shape on the match day, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his dismissals were presented.

Will Jacks is not expected to play in the opening match – England look to have shown their hand with the XI selected here. Still, he may have nudged himself ahead of the out-of-sorts Jacob Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

Even before the concern over Wood, the five fast bowlers in the England XI for this match may not have been the bowling unit for the initial match.

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

Though Stokes took the wickets, Jofra Archer caught the eye. He was energetic with the new ball and again after the interval, when he discomforted Will Jacks.

In the absence of Bashir and with Mark Wood departing, Root was asked to deliver 14 overs of his off-spin. It was average performance, costing 117 runs at an economy of over eight.

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