Ben Stokes Claims 6 Scalps in England Ashes Warm-up

Practice game, Lilac Hill (first day of 3)

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

National team: awaiting batting

Ben Stokes delivered 6 scalps in his first action since July but the tourists faced an injury concern regarding fast bowler Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up against England Lions in Perth.

The England captain, making his comeback after almost four months away with a shoulder injury, bowled 16 overs across three spells for his 6-52 against the Lions – all to catches taken on the leg side.

Pace bowler Mark Wood, also making his comeback after nine months away with a knee injury, delivered a pre-planned number of 8 overs before departing the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring problem. He will have a scan on the following day.

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

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

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

Bethell failed to press his case for selection in the Test side, making just two runs, but Will Jacks enhanced his claim to be called upon during the series by swiping eighty-four.

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

England's decision to play a single practice match against the development squad has been questioned by some former players but Stokes hit back by calling the doubters "former players".

A low-pressure opening day in front of a smattering of spectators at the ground was definitely a different experience from what England will face at a packed Optus Stadium the following week.

The captain was excellent in the contest against India 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 England's past four tours because of various injuries and the tourists' chances of regaining the Ashes are vastly diminished if he misses any of the five matches in Australia.

He has been bowling at full pace for two months and looked in fine shape on the match day, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his wickets were gifted.

Will Jacks is not expected to feature in the first Test – the team look to have shown their intentions with the XI selected here. Nevertheless, he may have nudged himself in front of the struggling Bethell with his 84, which came at almost a run a ball.

Even before the concern over Mark Wood, the five seamers in the England XI for this match may not have been the attack for the first Test.

Carse was absent from the first day because of sickness, with his place going to Tongue. Tongue had opening batsman Ben 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 the interval, when he caused problems for Will Jacks.

In the omission of Shoaib Bashir and with Mark Wood departing, Joe Root was required to deliver fourteen overs of his off-spin. It was mediocre fare, costing 117 at an economy of over eight.

Joe Root at least claimed a scalp in the final session when 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.