Stokes Takes Six Scalps in English Test Series Preparation Match

Practice match, Perth venue (first day of 3)

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

National team: awaiting batting

Ben Stokes produced six wickets in his return to play after July but England faced an fitness worry about Mark Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up against England Lions in Western Australia.

The England captain, making his comeback after nearly four months away with a shoulder problem, delivered 16 overs across three spells for his six for fifty-two versus England Lions – each to catches on the on-side.

Pace bowler Mark Wood, also making his comeback after 9 months out with a knee injury, bowled a scheduled amount of 8 overs before departing the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring problem. He will have a scan on Friday.

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

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

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

Bethell failed to press his case for inclusion in the Test team, making only two, but Will Jacks boosted his credentials to be called upon later in the tour by swiping 84.

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

The team's plan to play a solitary practice match against the development squad has been questioned by some former players but Stokes responded by labeling the critics "former players".

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

The captain was excellent in the contest against India in the domestic season, only to push himself to breaking point. He missed the final Test with a shoulder tear.

The captain has not managed a full part in any of England's past four tours because of various injuries and the team's chances of regaining the series are vastly diminished if he is absent from any of the five Tests in Australia.

He has been practicing at maximum speed 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 presented.

Jacks is not expected to play in the opening match – the team look to have shown their hand with the eleven selected here. Still, he may have moved himself ahead of the out-of-sorts Bethell with his 84, which came at almost a run a ball.

Even before the concern over Mark Wood, the five fast bowlers in the England XI for this game may not have been the bowling unit for the initial match.

Carse was absent from the opening day because of sickness, with his position going to Josh Tongue. Josh Tongue had opening batsman McKinney caught behind just after lunch.

Although Stokes took the wickets, Jofra Archer impressed observers. He was lively with the fresh ball and once more after the interval, when he discomforted Will Jacks.

In the omission of Bashir and with Mark Wood departing, Joe Root was asked to bowl 14 overs of his off-spin. It was mediocre fare, conceding 117 at an economy of more than eight.

Root at least took a scalp in the closing stages when Matt Fisher somehow struck a full delivery to the fielder before Archer bounced out Matthew Potts for fifty-three with the last delivery of the day.