Ben Stokes Secures Six Wickets in English Test Series Warm-up

Practice game, Perth venue (day one of 3)

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

National team: yet to bat

The England captain delivered 6 scalps in his first action after July but England encountered an fitness worry about Mark Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up versus the development squad in Perth.

Stokes, returning after approximately four months away with a shoulder problem, delivered sixteen overs across three spells for his six for fifty-two versus England Lions – each to catches taken on the leg side.

Pace bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after 9 months out with a knee problem, delivered a pre-planned number of 8 overs before exiting the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring problem. He will receive scanning on Friday.

The Wood situation removed the intensity out of the day, as the Lions were bowled out for three hundred eighty-two on a slow track after an automatic toss at Lilac Hill.

The tourists wanted to bowl first to build bowling fitness before the initial Test match at Optus Stadium, starting on 21 November.

In a potential indication towards their opening Test strategy, the visiting team fielded an all-pace attack – four specialists plus the captain – and left spin bowler Bashir in the development squad.

Jacob Bethell failed to press his claim for selection in the Test side, making only two, but Jacks boosted his claim to be called upon during the series by swiping 84.

McKinney, Cox, teenage Rew and Matthew Potts also scored fifties.

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

A low-pressure first day in front of a small crowd of spectators at Lilac Hill was definitely a different experience from what England will encounter 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 was absent from the final Test with a shoulder tear.

The captain has not completed a full part in any of England's past four series because of various injuries and the team's chances of regaining the series are vastly diminished if he misses any of the five matches 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 believe the way in which some of his dismissals were gifted.

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

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

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

Though Stokes took the wickets, Archer impressed observers. He was energetic with the new ball and again after lunch, when he discomforted Jacks.

In the omission of Shoaib Bashir and with Mark Wood departing, Root was required to bowl 14 overs of his off-spin. It was mediocre fare, costing 117 runs at an run rate of more than eight.

Joe Root at least took a scalp in the closing stages when Matt Fisher unexpectedly hit a full delivery to the fielder before Jofra Archer bounced out Matthew Potts for 53 with the final ball of the day.