Ben Stokes Takes Six Scalps in England Ashes Warm-up

Tour match, Perth venue (first day of three)

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

National team: yet to bat

Ben Stokes achieved six wickets in his initial appearance after July but the tourists encountered an injury concern about fast bowler Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up against the development squad in Perth.

Stokes, making his comeback after approximately four months out with a shoulder problem, delivered 16 overs across three spells for his 6-52 versus England Lions – each to catches taken on the leg side.

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

Wood's injury removed the energy out of the day, as the Lions were bowled out for 382 on a sluggish pitch after an automatic toss at Lilac Hill.

England aimed to bowl first to build bowling fitness before the first Ashes Test at the main venue, starting on November 21st.

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

Bethell didn't strengthen his claim for inclusion in the Test team, making just two runs, but Jacks boosted his claim to be called upon during the series by swiping eighty-four.

Ben McKinney, Cox, teenage Rew and Potts also made fifties.

The team's decision to play a single practice match against the Lions has been questioned by some former players but Stokes responded by labeling the critics "past players".

A low-pressure opening day in front of a small crowd of fans at the ground was certainly a different experience from what England will encounter at a sold-out main stadium the following week.

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

The skipper has not completed a complete participation in any of the team's previous four tours because of different fitness issues and the team's hopes of winning back the Ashes are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five matches in Australia.

He has been practicing at maximum speed for two months and appeared 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 – England look to have shown their hand with the eleven selected here. Nevertheless, he may have moved himself in front of the out-of-sorts Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

Even before the concern over Mark Wood, the five fast bowlers in the team lineup for this game may not have been the attack for the initial match.

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

Although Stokes took the wickets, Jofra Archer impressed observers. He was lively with the new ball and again after the interval, when he caused problems for Will Jacks.

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

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