Ben Stokes Takes Six Scalps in English Test Series Warm-up

Practice match, Perth venue (day one of three)

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

England XI: yet to bat

Ben Stokes achieved 6 scalps in his first action since July but the tourists faced an fitness worry involving Mark Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up versus the development squad in Western Australia.

Stokes, returning after almost four months away with a shoulder injury, delivered sixteen overs across three bowling spells for his six for fifty-two against the Lions – each to catches taken on the on-side.

Pace bowler Wood, also making his comeback after nine months away with a knee problem, bowled a scheduled amount of 8 overs before leaving the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring problem. He will undergo scanning on Friday.

Wood's injury removed the energy out of the day, as the England Lions were bowled out for 382 on a sluggish pitch after an uncontested toss at Lilac Hill.

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

In a possible hint towards their opening Test strategy, the tourists fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialist bowlers plus the captain – and omitted spin bowler Bashir in the Lions.

Jacob Bethell didn't strengthen his claim for inclusion in the Test team, making just two runs, but Jacks boosted his credentials to be selected later in the tour by scoring 84.

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

England's plan to play a solitary practice match against the Lions has been criticized by some former players but the captain hit back by calling the critics "past players".

A low-pressure opening day in front of a smattering of spectators at the ground was definitely a different experience from what England will encounter at a packed Optus Stadium the following week.

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

The skipper has not completed a complete participation in any of England's previous four series because of various injuries and the team's chances of regaining the Ashes are vastly diminished if he misses any of the five Tests in the host country.

He has been bowling at full pace for 60 days and looked in good condition on Wednesday, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his dismissals were gifted.

Jacks is unlikely to feature in the opening match – England look to have shown their intentions with the eleven named here. Nevertheless, he may have moved himself in front of the struggling Bethell with his 84, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

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

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

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

In the omission 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 at an economy of over eight.

Root at least claimed a wicket in the final session when Matt Fisher somehow struck a full delivery to the fielder before Jofra Archer dismissed with a bouncer Matthew Potts for fifty-three with the last delivery of the day.