Stokes Secures Six Wickets in England Ashes Warm-up

Practice match, Perth venue (day one of 3)

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

England XI: still to bat

The England captain produced 6 scalps in his first action following July but the tourists faced an fitness worry involving fast bowler Wood on the opening day of their Test preparation versus the development squad in Perth.

Stokes, returning after approximately four months away with a shoulder problem, bowled 16 overs across three bowling spells for his 6-52 against the Lions – each to catches taken on the on-side.

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

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

England wanted to bowl first to build bowling fitness before the initial Test match at Optus Stadium, starting on 21 November.

In a potential indication towards their opening Test strategy, the tourists fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialists plus Stokes – and left spin bowler Bashir in the development squad.

Jacob Bethell didn't strengthen his case for inclusion in the Test side, making only two, but Will Jacks enhanced his credentials to be called upon later in the tour by scoring 84.

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

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

A low-pressure opening day in front of a smattering of fans at Lilac Hill was certainly a world away from what England will encounter at a packed Optus Stadium the following week.

Stokes was excellent in the series against the Indian team in the home summer, only to push himself to injury. He was absent from the last match with a shoulder tear.

The captain has not managed a complete participation in any of England's previous four series because of various injuries and the team's hopes of regaining the Ashes are vastly diminished if he misses any of the five Tests in the host country.

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

Jacks is unlikely to play in the first Test – England look to have revealed their hand with the XI named here. Nevertheless, he may have nudged himself ahead of the struggling Jacob Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at almost a run a ball.

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

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

Though the captain took the wickets, Archer caught the eye. He was energetic with the new ball and again after lunch, when he discomforted Jacks.

In the absence of Bashir and with Mark Wood departing, Joe Root was required to bowl fourteen overs of his spin bowling. It was mediocre fare, conceding 117 runs at an economy of more than eight.

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