Ben Stokes Secures Six Wickets in England Test Series Warm-up

Practice game, Perth venue (first day of three)

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

England XI: awaiting batting

The England captain delivered 6 scalps in his initial appearance following July but England encountered an injury concern involving fast bowler Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up versus the development squad in Perth.

Stokes, making his comeback after almost four months away with a shoulder problem, delivered sixteen overs across three spells for his 6-52 versus the Lions – each to catches taken on the leg side.

Fast bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after 9 months out with a knee problem, delivered a pre-planned number of 8 overs before departing the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring problem. He will have a scan on Friday.

Wood's injury removed the energy out of the day, as the England Lions were dismissed for three hundred eighty-two on a sluggish pitch after an automatic toss at the venue.

England wanted to bowl 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 visiting team selected an fast bowling lineup – four specialist bowlers plus the captain – and omitted spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in the Lions.

Bethell didn't strengthen his case for inclusion in the Test side, making only two, but Will Jacks boosted his credentials to be selected during the series by scoring 84.

McKinney, Jordan Cox, 17-year-old Rew and Potts also scored fifties.

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

A relaxed opening day in front of a small crowd of fans at Lilac Hill was certainly a different experience from what England will encounter at a sold-out main stadium the following week.

The captain was excellent in the series against the Indian team in the domestic season, only to strain himself to breaking point. He was absent from the final Test with a shoulder tear.

The captain has not managed a complete participation in any of the team's previous four series because of various injuries and the tourists' chances of regaining the Ashes are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five Tests in Australia.

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

Jacks is unlikely to play in the opening match – the team look to have shown their intentions with the eleven named here. Nevertheless, he may have moved himself in front of the out-of-sorts Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

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

Brydon Carse was absent from the opening day because of sickness, with his place going to Tongue. Tongue had Lions opener McKinney edging to the keeper just after the break.

Although Stokes took the wickets, Archer caught the eye. He was energetic with the fresh ball and once more after the interval, when he caused problems for Will Jacks.

In the absence of Shoaib Bashir and with Mark Wood departing, Root was asked to bowl 14 overs of his spin bowling. It was average performance, costing 117 runs at an economy of more than eight.

Joe Root at least took a scalp in the final session when Fisher somehow struck a full delivery to mid-on before Archer dismissed with a bouncer Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.