Stokes Claims Six Scalps in English Test Series Warm-up

Practice match, Perth venue (first day of three)

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

National team: still to bat

The England captain produced six wickets in his initial appearance following July but England encountered an injury concern involving Mark Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up against England Lions in Western Australia.

The England captain, making his comeback after nearly four months out with a shoulder injury, delivered 16 overs across three spells for his six for fifty-two against the Lions – each to catches on the leg 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 exiting the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring problem. He will undergo scanning on Friday.

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

The tourists aimed to field first to get overs in their legs before the initial Test match at Optus Stadium, beginning on 21 November.

In a potential indication towards their opening Test strategy, the visiting team fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialists plus Stokes – and left off-spinner Bashir in the development squad.

Jacob Bethell failed to press his claim for inclusion in the Test team, making just two runs, but Jacks enhanced his credentials to be called upon during the series by scoring eighty-four.

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

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

A relaxed opening day in front of a small crowd of spectators at Lilac Hill was definitely a world away from what England will encounter at a packed Optus Stadium next week.

The captain was superb in the contest against India in the home summer, only to strain himself to injury. He missed the final Test with a torn shoulder.

The skipper has not managed a complete participation in any of the team's previous four series because of different fitness issues and the team's hopes of winning back the series are vastly diminished if he misses any of the five matches in the host country.

He has been practicing at maximum speed for 60 days and appeared in fine shape on the match day, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his wickets were presented.

Will Jacks is not expected to feature in the first Test – the team look to have revealed their intentions with the XI selected here. Nevertheless, he may have nudged himself ahead of the struggling Jacob Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at almost a run a ball.

Prior to the concern over Mark Wood, the five seamers in the team lineup for this match may not have been the attack for the first Test.

Carse was absent from the opening day because of illness, with his place going to Tongue. Josh Tongue had Lions opener McKinney caught behind just after the break.

Though Stokes took the scalps, Archer caught the eye. He was lively with the fresh ball and again after lunch, when he discomforted Will Jacks.

In the absence of Shoaib Bashir and with Wood departing, Joe Root was asked to bowl 14 overs of his spin bowling. It was mediocre fare, conceding 117 runs at an run rate of over eight.

Joe Root at least claimed a wicket in the closing stages when Matt Fisher unexpectedly struck a full delivery to mid-on before Archer dismissed with a bouncer Matthew Potts for 53 with the final ball of the day.