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

Tour game, Perth venue (first day of three)

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

National team: awaiting batting

Ben Stokes delivered 6 scalps in his return to play following July but England faced an fitness worry regarding Mark Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up against the development squad in Perth.

Stokes, making his comeback after approximately four months away with a shoulder injury, bowled 16 overs across three bowling spells for his six for fifty-two versus the Lions – all to catches taken on the leg side.

Pace bowler Wood, also making his comeback after nine months away with a knee problem, bowled a pre-planned number of eight overs before departing the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring issue. He will receive scanning on the following day.

Wood's injury drained the energy out of the day, as the England Lions were dismissed for 382 on a slow track after an automatic toss at the venue.

The tourists wanted to bowl first to build bowling fitness before the initial Test match at the main venue, beginning on 21 November.

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

Bethell didn't strengthen his case for selection in the Test team, making only two, but Jacks boosted his claim to be called upon later in the tour by hitting eighty-four.

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

England's plan to play a single warm-up game against the Lions has been questioned by some former players but Stokes hit back by labeling the critics "former players".

A relaxed first day in front of a smattering of fans at Lilac Hill was certainly a world away from what the team will face at a packed main stadium next week.

The captain was superb in the contest against the Indian team in the home summer, only to strain himself to breaking point. He missed the last match with a shoulder tear.

The skipper has not managed a complete participation in any of the team's past four series because of different fitness issues and the team's chances of regaining the series are vastly diminished if he is absent from any of the five Tests in the host country.

He has been practicing at maximum speed for 60 days and looked in good condition on Wednesday, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his dismissals were presented.

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

Prior to the doubt over Mark Wood, the five fast bowlers in the England XI for this match may not have been the attack for the first Test.

Brydon Carse missed the first day because of illness, with his place going to Tongue. Josh Tongue had Lions opener Ben McKinney caught behind just after lunch.

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

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

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