Stokes Secures 6 Scalps in England Ashes Warm-up

Tour match, Perth venue (day one of 3)

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

England XI: awaiting batting

Ben Stokes achieved 6 scalps in his initial appearance since July but England faced an injury concern regarding Mark Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up against England Lions in Western Australia.

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

Fast bowler Wood, also making his comeback after nine months out with a knee injury, delivered a pre-planned number of 8 overs before leaving the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring problem. He will undergo scanning on the following day.

The Wood situation drained the energy out of the day, as the Lions were bowled out for 382 on a sluggish pitch after an uncontested toss at Lilac Hill.

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

In a possible hint towards their opening Test strategy, the tourists fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialist bowlers plus Stokes – and omitted spin bowler Shoaib 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 claim to be selected during the series by hitting eighty-four.

McKinney, Cox, teenage Rew and Potts also made fifties.

England's decision to play a single practice match against the development squad has been criticized by some ex-players but the captain responded by calling the doubters "former players".

A low-pressure opening day in front of a small crowd of spectators at Lilac Hill was certainly a different experience from what the team will face at a sold-out main stadium the following week.

The captain was superb in the contest against India in the home summer, only to strain himself to breaking point. He was absent from the last match with a shoulder tear.

The skipper has not completed a full part in any of the team's past four series because of various injuries and the tourists' chances of winning back the series are vastly diminished if he misses any of the five matches in the host country.

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

Will Jacks is unlikely to feature in the first Test – England look to have revealed their intentions with the XI selected here. Still, he may have nudged himself ahead of the struggling Jacob Bethell with his 84, which came at almost a run a ball.

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

Carse was absent from the opening day because of sickness, with his place going to Josh Tongue. Josh Tongue had Lions opener McKinney caught behind just after the break.

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

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

Joe Root at least claimed a wicket in the closing stages when Matt Fisher unexpectedly hit a full delivery to the fielder before Jofra Archer bounced out Matthew Potts for fifty-three with the last delivery of the day.