Ben Stokes Takes Six Scalps in English Ashes Preparation Match

Practice game, Perth venue (day one of 3)

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

National team: still to bat

The England captain produced 6 scalps in his return to play following July but England faced an injury concern regarding Mark Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up against England Lions in Perth.

Stokes, making his comeback after approximately four months out with a shoulder problem, delivered 16 overs across three bowling spells for his 6-52 against the Lions – each to catches taken on the on-side.

Fast bowler Wood, also making his comeback after 9 months away with a knee injury, bowled a scheduled amount of eight overs before exiting the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring problem. He will receive scanning on Friday.

Wood's injury drained the intensity out of the day, as the Lions were bowled out for 382 on a slow track after an uncontested toss at the venue.

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

In a potential indication towards their first-Test plans, the tourists selected an all-pace attack – four specialists plus Stokes – and left off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in the Lions.

Bethell failed to press his claim for selection in the Test team, making just two runs, but Will Jacks enhanced his claim to be selected during the series by hitting eighty-four.

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

The team's decision to play a single warm-up game against the development squad has been questioned by some ex-players but the captain hit back by labeling the critics "former players".

A low-pressure first day in front of a small crowd of spectators at the ground was definitely a different experience from what England will face at a sold-out main stadium the following 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 shoulder tear.

The captain has not completed a full part in any of England's previous four series because of various injuries and the team's chances of winning back the series are vastly diminished if he misses any of the five matches 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 dismissals were gifted.

Jacks is not expected to feature in the first Test – the team look to have revealed their hand with the XI selected here. Still, he may have moved himself in front of the out-of-sorts Jacob Bethell with his 84, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

Prior to the concern over Wood, the five seamers in the England XI for this match may not have been the bowling unit for the first Test.

Carse missed the first day because of sickness, with his place going to Tongue. Josh Tongue had opening batsman McKinney edging to the keeper just after lunch.

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

In the omission of Shoaib Bashir and with Mark Wood leaving the field, Root was asked to deliver fourteen overs of his spin bowling. It was average performance, costing 117 at an run rate of more than eight.

Root at least claimed a wicket in the final session when Matt Fisher somehow hit a full toss to the fielder before Archer bounced out Matthew Potts for fifty-three with the final ball of the day.