Stokes Takes 6 Scalps in England Test Series Warm-up

Practice game, Perth venue (first day of three)

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

England XI: still to bat

Ben Stokes achieved six wickets in his first action after July but the tourists faced an injury concern regarding fast bowler Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up against England Lions in Western Australia.

The England captain, making his comeback after approximately four months away with a shoulder injury, bowled sixteen overs across three spells for his six for fifty-two against the Lions – each to catches taken on the on-side.

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

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

The tourists aimed to bowl first to build bowling fitness before the initial Test match at the main venue, starting on 21 November.

In a possible hint towards their first-Test plans, the tourists fielded an all-pace attack – four specialist bowlers plus Stokes – and left spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in the development squad.

Jacob Bethell didn't strengthen his case for selection in the Test side, making only two, but Will Jacks enhanced his credentials to be selected later in the tour by scoring 84.

Ben McKinney, Cox, teenage Rew and Potts also made half-centuries.

England's decision to play a single practice match against the development squad has been questioned by some former players but Stokes hit back by labeling the critics "past players".

A low-pressure first day in front of a small crowd of spectators at the ground was certainly a world away from what England will face at a sold-out Optus Stadium the following week.

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

The skipper has not managed a complete participation in any of the team's past four tours because of various injuries and the tourists' hopes of winning back the Ashes are significantly reduced if he is absent from any of the five matches 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 comprehend the way in which some of his dismissals were gifted.

Will Jacks is not expected to feature in the first Test – the team look to have shown their intentions with the eleven selected here. Nevertheless, he may have moved himself in front of the struggling Bethell with his 84, which came at almost a run a ball.

Even before the doubt over Mark Wood, the five fast bowlers in the England XI for this game may not have been the bowling unit for the first Test.

Carse missed the opening day because of sickness, with his place going to Tongue. Josh Tongue had Lions opener Ben McKinney edging to the keeper just after lunch.

Although Stokes took the wickets, Archer caught the eye. He was energetic with the fresh ball and once more after the interval, when he caused problems for Jacks.

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

Joe Root at least claimed a scalp in the final session when Fisher somehow hit a full toss to mid-on before Archer dismissed with a bouncer Matthew Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.