Stokes Secures Six Wickets in England Ashes Warm-up

Tour match, Perth venue (day one of three)

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

National team: still to bat

Ben Stokes produced six wickets in his first action following July but the tourists encountered an fitness worry involving Mark Wood on the opening day of their Test preparation versus the development squad in Western Australia.

The England captain, returning after almost four months away with a shoulder problem, delivered sixteen overs across three bowling spells for his six for fifty-two against England Lions – all to catches on the leg side.

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

Wood's injury drained the energy out of the day, as the England Lions were bowled out for three hundred eighty-two on a slow track after an automatic toss at Lilac Hill.

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

In a possible hint towards their opening Test strategy, the visiting team fielded an all-pace attack – four specialist bowlers plus the captain – and omitted off-spinner Bashir in the development squad.

Jacob Bethell failed to press his case for inclusion in the Test side, making just two runs, but Jacks enhanced his credentials to be called upon during the series by hitting 84.

McKinney, Jordan Cox, teenage Thomas Rew and Matthew Potts also made half-centuries.

The team's decision to play a single warm-up game against the Lions has been criticized by some former players but Stokes responded by calling the doubters "past players".

A relaxed 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 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 torn shoulder.

The skipper has not completed a full part in any of England's previous four tours because of different fitness issues and the team's chances of regaining the series are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five Tests in the host country.

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

Will Jacks is not expected to play in the opening match – England look to have shown their intentions with the XI named here. Still, he may have nudged himself in front of the struggling Bethell with his 84, which came at almost a run a ball.

Prior to the doubt over Wood, the five seamers in the England XI for this game may not have been the attack for the first Test.

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

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

In the omission of Shoaib Bashir and with Wood leaving the field, Joe Root was required to deliver fourteen overs of his off-spin. It was average performance, costing 117 at an economy of over eight.

Root at least took a wicket in the final session when Fisher somehow hit a full toss to the fielder before Jofra Archer dismissed with a bouncer Matthew Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.