Stokes Takes 6 Scalps in England Ashes Warm-up

Tour match, Lilac Hill (first day of 3)

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

National team: still to bat

The England captain delivered six wickets in his return to play since July but the tourists encountered an injury concern involving fast bowler Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up versus the development squad in Perth.

The England captain, making his comeback after nearly four months out with a shoulder injury, delivered 16 overs across three bowling spells for his 6-52 against the Lions – each to catches taken on the leg side.

Fast bowler Mark Wood, also making his comeback after 9 months away with a knee injury, bowled a pre-planned number of 8 overs before exiting the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring problem. He will receive scanning 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 automatic toss at Lilac Hill.

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

In a possible hint towards their first-Test plans, the visiting team selected an all-pace attack – four specialists plus the captain – and omitted spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in the development squad.

Jacob Bethell failed to press his claim for inclusion in the Test side, making just two runs, but Jacks enhanced his credentials to be selected later in the tour by swiping 84.

McKinney, Jordan Cox, teenage Rew and Potts also made fifties.

The team's decision to play a solitary practice match against the Lions has been criticized by some former players but Stokes responded by labeling the critics "past players".

A relaxed first day in front of a smattering of fans at the ground was certainly a world away from what the team will face at a packed Optus Stadium the following week.

Stokes was excellent in the contest against India in the domestic season, only to push himself to injury. He missed the last match with a torn shoulder.

The captain has not managed a complete participation in any of England's past four series because of different fitness issues and the tourists' chances of winning back the Ashes are significantly reduced if he is absent from any of the five matches in the host country.

He has been bowling at full pace for 60 days and looked in fine shape on Wednesday, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his dismissals were presented.

Jacks is unlikely to feature in the opening match – the team look to have revealed their intentions with the eleven named here. Still, he may have moved himself ahead of the out-of-sorts Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at almost a run a ball.

Even before the concern over Wood, the five seamers in the team lineup for this game may not have been the attack for the first Test.

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

Although Stokes took the scalps, Jofra Archer impressed observers. He was energetic with the new ball and again after lunch, when he caused problems for Will Jacks.

In the absence of Shoaib Bashir and with Wood leaving the field, Joe Root was asked to bowl fourteen overs of his spin bowling. It was mediocre fare, costing 117 runs at an run rate of over eight.

Root at least took a scalp in the closing stages when Fisher unexpectedly struck a full delivery to the fielder before Archer dismissed with a bouncer Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.