Ben Stokes Takes Six Scalps in English Test Series 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 first action following July but the tourists faced an injury concern regarding fast bowler Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up against England Lions in Western Australia.

The England captain, making his comeback after approximately four months away with a shoulder problem, bowled sixteen overs across three spells for his six for fifty-two versus the Lions – each to catches on the on-side.

Fast bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after 9 months away with a knee injury, bowled a scheduled amount of eight overs before departing the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring problem. He will undergo scanning on Friday.

Wood's injury sucked the intensity out of the day, as the England Lions were bowled out for 382 on a slow track after an automatic toss at Lilac Hill.

The tourists aimed to field first to get overs in their legs before the initial Test match at the main venue, starting on 21 November.

In a potential indication towards their opening Test strategy, the tourists selected an fast bowling lineup – four specialist bowlers plus the captain – and left off-spinner Bashir in the development squad.

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

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

England's decision to play a single warm-up game against the development squad has been questioned by some ex-players but the captain responded by labeling the critics "past players".

A low-pressure opening day in front of a smattering of spectators at the ground was certainly a world away from what England will encounter at a sold-out main stadium the following week.

Stokes was excellent in the series against the Indian team in the home summer, only to strain himself to breaking point. He was absent from the final Test with a shoulder tear.

The captain has not completed a complete participation in any of England's past four series because of various injuries and the tourists' chances of regaining the Ashes are vastly diminished if he misses any of the five Tests in Australia.

He has been practicing at maximum speed for two months and looked in fine shape on Wednesday, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his dismissals were presented.

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

Even before the doubt over Mark Wood, the five seamers in the team lineup for this match may not have been the attack for the initial match.

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

Though Stokes took the scalps, Archer impressed observers. He was lively with the new ball and once more after the interval, when he caused problems for Jacks.

In the absence of Bashir and with Wood departing, Joe Root was required to bowl fourteen overs of his off-spin. It was mediocre fare, costing 117 runs at an run rate of over eight.

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