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

Tour match, Perth venue (first day of three)

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

England XI: still to bat

Ben Stokes delivered 6 scalps in his first action following July but England encountered an injury concern about Mark Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up against the development squad in Western Australia.

The England captain, returning after approximately four months out with a shoulder problem, delivered sixteen overs across three spells for his six for fifty-two versus England Lions – all to catches on the on-side.

Pace bowler Wood, himself returning after 9 months away with a knee problem, delivered a pre-planned number of eight overs before departing the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring issue. He will receive scanning on the following day.

Wood's injury sucked the energy out of the day, as the Lions were bowled out for three hundred eighty-two on a slow, low surface after an uncontested toss at Lilac Hill.

England aimed to bowl first to build bowling fitness before the initial Test match at Optus Stadium, beginning on 21 November.

In a potential indication towards their opening Test strategy, the tourists fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialists plus Stokes – and omitted spin bowler Bashir in the Lions.

Jacob Bethell didn't strengthen his case for inclusion in the Test side, making only two, but Jacks enhanced his claim to be called upon later in the tour by scoring 84.

McKinney, Jordan Cox, teenage Rew and Potts also scored half-centuries.

The team's plan to play a single warm-up game against the Lions has been criticized by some ex-players but Stokes responded by labeling the critics "past players".

A relaxed opening day in front of a smattering of fans at the ground was definitely a world away from what England will face at a sold-out main stadium next week.

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

The skipper has not completed a full part in any of England's previous four series because of various injuries and the team's hopes of regaining 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 looked in good condition on Wednesday, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his dismissals were gifted.

Will Jacks is not expected to play in the first Test – the team look to have revealed their intentions with the eleven selected here. Still, he may have moved himself ahead of the struggling Jacob Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

Prior to the concern over Wood, the five seamers in the England XI for this match may not have been the bowling unit for the first Test.

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

Although the captain took the wickets, Jofra Archer impressed observers. He was lively with the new ball and again after the interval, when he caused problems for Jacks.

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

Root at least claimed a scalp in the final session when Matt Fisher somehow hit a full delivery to the fielder before Jofra Archer bounced out Matthew Potts for 53 with the final ball of the day.