Ben Stokes Takes 6 Scalps in English Test Series Preparation Match

Tour match, Perth venue (day one of 3)

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

National team: awaiting batting

The England captain produced 6 scalps in his initial appearance following July but England faced an injury concern regarding fast bowler Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up against the development squad in Western Australia.

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

Fast bowler Wood, also making his comeback after nine months out with a knee injury, bowled a pre-planned number of eight overs before leaving the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring issue. He will undergo scanning on the following day.

Wood's injury sucked 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.

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

In a possible hint towards their opening Test strategy, the tourists fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialists plus the captain – and left spin bowler Bashir in the development squad.

Jacob Bethell failed to press his case for selection in the Test side, making just two runs, but Will Jacks enhanced his claim to be called upon later in the tour by swiping 84.

McKinney, Cox, teenage Thomas Rew and Matthew Potts also scored fifties.

The team's plan to play a single warm-up game against the development squad has been criticized by some former players but Stokes hit back by labeling the critics "former players".

A low-pressure first day in front of a smattering of spectators at Lilac Hill was certainly a world away from what the team will face at a sold-out Optus Stadium the following week.

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

The captain has not completed a complete participation in any of the team's past four series because of different fitness issues and the team's chances of winning back the series are vastly diminished if he misses any of the five Tests in the host country.

He has been bowling at maximum speed for two months and appeared in fine shape on the match day, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his wickets were gifted.

Jacks is unlikely to feature in the opening match – England look to have shown their intentions with the eleven selected here. Still, he may have nudged himself in front of the out-of-sorts Jacob Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at almost a run a ball.

Even before the doubt over Mark Wood, the five seamers in the team lineup for this match may not have been the attack for the initial match.

Carse was absent from the opening day because of sickness, with his place going to Tongue. Josh Tongue had opening batsman Ben McKinney edging to the keeper just after lunch.

Though Stokes took the scalps, 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 14 overs of his off-spin. It was average performance, costing 117 runs at an economy of more than eight.

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