Stokes Secures Six Wickets in English Ashes Warm-up

Practice match, Perth venue (day one of three)

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

National team: awaiting batting

Ben Stokes delivered 6 scalps in his first action after July but the tourists encountered an injury concern regarding Mark Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up against the development squad in Perth.

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

Pace bowler Wood, also making his comeback after nine months out with a knee injury, bowled a pre-planned number of eight overs before exiting the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring problem. He will have a scan on Friday.

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

The tourists wanted to bowl first to build bowling fitness before the first Ashes Test at the main venue, beginning on November 21st.

In a potential indication towards their opening Test strategy, the tourists fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialists plus the captain – and omitted off-spinner Bashir in the Lions.

Jacob Bethell didn't strengthen his claim for selection in the Test side, making just two runs, but Will Jacks boosted his claim to be called upon later in the tour by swiping 84.

Ben McKinney, Jordan Cox, 17-year-old Thomas Rew and Potts also scored fifties.

England's decision to play a single warm-up game against the Lions has been questioned by some ex-players but the captain responded by calling the critics "has-beens".

A low-pressure opening day in front of a smattering of fans at Lilac Hill was certainly a world away from what the team will encounter at a sold-out main stadium next week.

The captain was excellent in the series against the Indian team in the home summer, only to push himself to breaking point. He was absent from the final Test with a shoulder tear.

The captain has not managed a full part in any of England's previous four tours because of various injuries and the team's hopes of winning back the series are significantly reduced if he is absent from any of the five Tests in the host country.

He has been bowling at maximum speed for 60 days and appeared in good condition on the match day, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his dismissals were gifted.

Jacks is unlikely to play in the first Test – England look to have shown their hand with the XI selected here. Still, he may have nudged himself in front of the struggling Jacob Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at almost a run a ball.

Even before the concern over Wood, the five fast bowlers in the team lineup for this game may not have been the attack for the initial match.

Brydon Carse was absent from the first day because of illness, with his position going to Tongue. Josh Tongue had Lions opener McKinney edging to the keeper just after lunch.

Although Stokes took the scalps, Jofra Archer impressed observers. He was energetic with the new ball and once more after lunch, when he discomforted Will Jacks.

In the absence of Bashir and with Wood leaving the field, Root was asked to bowl 14 overs of his off-spin. It was average performance, costing 117 runs at an run rate of over eight.

Root at least claimed a wicket in the closing stages when Matt Fisher somehow struck a full toss to mid-on before Jofra Archer dismissed with a bouncer Potts for 53 with the final ball of the day.