Stokes Takes 6 Scalps in England Ashes Warm-up

Practice match, Perth venue (day one of three)

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

National team: awaiting batting

The England captain achieved six wickets in his first action after July but England faced an injury concern regarding Mark Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up versus the development squad in Western Australia.

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

Pace bowler Mark Wood, also making his comeback after 9 months out with a knee problem, bowled a scheduled amount of eight overs before exiting the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring problem. He will receive scanning on Friday.

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

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

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

Jacob Bethell didn't strengthen his claim for selection in the Test team, making only two, but Jacks boosted his credentials to be called upon during the series by scoring 84.

McKinney, Jordan Cox, 17-year-old Thomas Rew and Potts also made fifties.

England's decision to play a solitary warm-up game against the Lions has been criticized by some former players but Stokes hit back by calling the critics "has-beens".

A relaxed opening day in front of a smattering of fans at the ground was certainly a world away from what the team will face at a packed Optus Stadium the following week.

Stokes was excellent in the series against the Indian team in the domestic season, only to push himself to breaking point. He was absent from the last match with a shoulder tear.

The skipper has not completed a full part in any of the team's past four tours because of different fitness issues and the tourists' chances of regaining 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 fine shape on Wednesday, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his dismissals were presented.

Jacks is not expected to play in the first Test – England look to have revealed their hand with the XI selected here. Still, he may have moved himself in front of the struggling Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

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

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

Though the captain took the wickets, Archer caught the eye. He was energetic with the new ball and again after the interval, when he caused problems for Will Jacks.

In the absence of Shoaib Bashir and with Mark Wood departing, Root was required to deliver fourteen overs of his spin bowling. It was mediocre fare, costing 117 at an run rate of more than eight.

Joe Root at least took a wicket in the closing stages when Matt Fisher somehow hit a full delivery to mid-on before Archer dismissed with a bouncer Potts for 53 with the final ball of the day.