Ben Stokes Claims 6 Scalps in English Test Series Warm-up

Practice match, Perth venue (first day of 3)

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

England XI: awaiting batting

The England captain delivered six wickets in his first action after July but England encountered an injury concern regarding Mark Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up versus the development squad in Perth.

Stokes, making his comeback after almost four months away with a shoulder problem, bowled sixteen overs across three spells for his 6-52 versus England Lions – each to catches taken on the on-side.

Pace bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after nine months out with a knee problem, bowled a scheduled amount of eight overs before departing the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring issue. He will have a scan on Friday.

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

England aimed to field first to get overs in their legs before the initial Test match at the main venue, starting on November 21st.

In a potential indication towards their opening Test strategy, the tourists selected an all-pace attack – four specialist bowlers plus Stokes – and omitted off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in the development squad.

Bethell didn't strengthen his case for inclusion in the Test team, making just two runs, but Will Jacks boosted his claim to be selected during the series by scoring eighty-four.

Ben McKinney, Cox, 17-year-old Rew and Matthew Potts also scored fifties.

The team's plan to play a solitary practice match against the Lions has been questioned by some ex-players but Stokes hit back by calling the critics "past players".

A relaxed opening day in front of a smattering of spectators at the ground was certainly a different experience from what England will encounter at a sold-out Optus Stadium the following week.

Stokes was superb in the series against the Indian team in the domestic season, only to push himself to breaking point. He was absent from the final Test with a shoulder tear.

The captain has not completed a complete participation in any of the team's past four tours because of various injuries and the tourists' chances of winning back the Ashes are significantly reduced if he is absent from any of the five Tests in Australia.

He has been practicing at maximum speed for two months and appeared in fine shape on the match day, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his dismissals were gifted.

Will Jacks is unlikely to play in the first Test – England look to have revealed their intentions with the eleven selected here. Nevertheless, he may have moved himself ahead of the struggling Jacob Bethell with his 84, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

Prior to the doubt over Wood, the five fast bowlers in the England XI for this game may not have been the attack for the initial match.

Carse missed the first day because of sickness, with his place going to Josh Tongue. Tongue had opening batsman Ben McKinney edging to the keeper just after lunch.

Though Stokes took the scalps, Archer caught the eye. He was lively with the fresh ball and again after lunch, when he discomforted Will Jacks.

In the omission of Shoaib Bashir and with Wood leaving the field, Joe Root was required to deliver 14 overs of his spin bowling. It was average performance, conceding 117 at an economy of over eight.

Root at least claimed a scalp in the final session when Matt Fisher somehow hit a full delivery to mid-on before Jofra Archer bounced out Potts for fifty-three with the last delivery of the day.