Stokes Takes 6 Scalps in English Ashes Warm-up

Practice game, Lilac Hill (day one of three)

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

England XI: still to bat

The England captain achieved 6 scalps in his return to play following July but the tourists encountered an injury concern regarding fast bowler Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up against England Lions in Perth.

Stokes, making his comeback after almost four months away with a shoulder injury, delivered 16 overs across three bowling spells for his 6-52 against the Lions – all to catches on the on-side.

Fast bowler Wood, himself returning after 9 months away with a knee problem, bowled a scheduled amount of eight overs before exiting the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring issue. He will have a scan on Friday.

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

England aimed to field first to accumulate bowling time before the first Ashes Test at Optus Stadium, starting on November 21st.

In a potential indication towards their first-Test plans, the tourists fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialist bowlers plus Stokes – and omitted off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in the development squad.

Bethell failed to press his claim for selection in the Test team, making just two runs, but Jacks enhanced his credentials to be called upon during the series by swiping 84.

Ben McKinney, Jordan Cox, teenage Thomas Rew and Potts also made fifties.

The team's decision to play a solitary practice match against the Lions has been criticized by some former players but the captain hit back by calling the doubters "former players".

A low-pressure opening day in front of a small crowd of fans at the ground was certainly a different experience from what England will encounter at a sold-out main stadium next week.

Stokes was excellent in the contest against the Indian team in the home summer, only to push himself to breaking point. He was absent from the last match with a shoulder tear.

The captain has not managed a complete participation in any of England's previous four tours because of different fitness issues and the tourists' hopes of regaining the series are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five Tests in the host country.

He has been practicing at full pace for 60 days and looked in good condition on Wednesday, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his dismissals were presented.

Jacks is not expected to play in the opening match – the team look to have revealed their intentions with the XI selected here. Nevertheless, he may have nudged himself in front of the struggling Jacob Bethell with his 84, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

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

Carse missed the first day because of sickness, with his place going to Josh Tongue. Tongue had opening batsman McKinney caught behind just after the break.

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

In the absence of Bashir and with Wood leaving the field, Joe Root was required to deliver fourteen overs of his off-spin. It was average performance, costing 117 runs at an run rate of over eight.

Root at least took a wicket in the final session when Matt Fisher somehow struck a full toss to mid-on before Archer bounced out Potts for fifty-three with the last delivery of the day.