Stokes Takes 6 Wickets in English Test Series Warm-up

Practice game, Lilac Hill (day one of 3)

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

National team: yet to bat

Ben Stokes produced 6 scalps in his return to play since July but England faced 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, returning after nearly four months out with a shoulder problem, bowled sixteen overs across three spells for his six for fifty-two against the Lions – each to catches on the on-side.

Pace bowler Mark Wood, also making his comeback after nine months out with a knee problem, delivered a pre-planned number of eight overs before departing the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring issue. He will receive scanning on Friday.

The Wood situation drained the energy out of the day, as the Lions were dismissed for 382 on a sluggish pitch after an uncontested toss at the venue.

The tourists wanted to field first to accumulate bowling time before the first Ashes Test at Optus Stadium, beginning on November 21st.

In a potential indication towards their first-Test plans, the visiting team fielded an all-pace attack – four specialist bowlers plus Stokes – and omitted off-spinner Bashir in the development squad.

Jacob Bethell failed to press his claim for selection in the Test team, making only two, but Jacks boosted his claim to be called upon during the series by scoring 84.

McKinney, Jordan Cox, 17-year-old Thomas Rew and Matthew Potts also made half-centuries.

The team's decision to play a single practice match against the development squad has been questioned by some former players but the captain responded by labeling the critics "has-beens".

A relaxed first day in front of a small crowd of fans at the ground was certainly a different experience from what the team will encounter at a sold-out main stadium next week.

Stokes was excellent 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 skipper has not managed a complete participation in any of England's previous four series because of various injuries and the tourists' chances of regaining the series are vastly diminished if he misses any of the five matches in Australia.

He has been practicing at full pace for two months and appeared in good condition on the match day, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his dismissals were presented.

Will Jacks is not expected to feature in the opening match – the team look to have revealed their intentions with the eleven named here. Nevertheless, he may have moved himself in front of the struggling Jacob Bethell with his 84, 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 bowling unit for the initial match.

Brydon Carse missed the opening day because of illness, with his place going to Josh Tongue. Tongue had opening batsman McKinney caught behind just after the break.

Though the captain took the scalps, Jofra Archer caught the eye. He was energetic with the fresh ball and once more after lunch, when he discomforted Jacks.

In the absence of Shoaib Bashir and with Mark Wood leaving the field, Root was required to bowl 14 overs of his off-spin. It was mediocre fare, conceding 117 at an run rate of more than eight.

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