Ben Stokes Claims 6 Scalps in English Ashes Warm-up

Practice match, Perth venue (day one of three)

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

England XI: still to bat

The England captain produced six wickets in his return to play after July but England encountered an injury concern regarding fast bowler Wood on the opening day of their Test preparation versus England Lions in Western Australia.

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

Fast bowler Mark Wood, also making his comeback after nine months away with a knee problem, bowled a scheduled amount of eight overs before exiting the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring issue. He will undergo scanning on Friday.

The Wood situation removed the energy out of the day, as the England Lions were bowled out for 382 on a slow track after an uncontested toss at Lilac Hill.

England wanted to field first to accumulate bowling time before the first Ashes Test at the main venue, starting on November 21st.

In a potential indication towards their opening Test strategy, the visiting team selected an all-pace attack – four specialist bowlers plus Stokes – and left off-spinner Bashir in the development squad.

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

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

The team's plan to play a solitary warm-up game against the Lions has been criticized by some former players but the captain responded by labeling the critics "past players".

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

Stokes was superb in the contest against India in the home summer, only to push himself to breaking point. He was absent from the final Test with a torn shoulder.

The skipper has not completed a full part in any of England's previous four series because of various injuries and the tourists' hopes of winning back the Ashes are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five matches in the host country.

He has been bowling at maximum speed for 60 days and looked in good condition on the match day, even if he could not believe 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 hand with the eleven selected here. Still, he may have moved himself ahead of the out-of-sorts Jacob Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at almost a run a ball.

Even before the concern over 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 position going to Josh Tongue. Tongue had opening batsman McKinney caught behind just after the break.

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

In the absence of Bashir and with Mark Wood departing, Root was asked to deliver fourteen overs of his off-spin. It was mediocre fare, costing 117 runs at an economy of more than eight.

Joe Root at least took a wicket in the closing stages when Matt Fisher unexpectedly struck a full delivery to mid-on before Archer bounced out Potts for fifty-three with the last delivery of the day.