Ben Stokes Claims Six Scalps in English 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

Ben Stokes achieved 6 scalps in his initial appearance after July but England encountered an injury concern involving fast bowler Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up against the development squad in Perth.

Stokes, returning after nearly four months out with a shoulder problem, bowled 16 overs across three bowling spells for his 6-52 versus the Lions – all to catches taken on the leg side.

Fast bowler Wood, also making his comeback after nine months out with a knee problem, delivered a pre-planned number of eight overs before exiting the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring issue. He will receive scanning on Friday.

Wood's injury removed the energy out of the day, as the England Lions were dismissed for three hundred eighty-two on a sluggish pitch after an automatic toss at Lilac Hill.

England wanted to field first to get overs in their legs before the first Ashes Test at the main venue, starting on November 21st.

In a possible hint towards their first-Test plans, the visiting team fielded an all-pace attack – four specialists plus the captain – and omitted off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in the development squad.

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 swiping eighty-four.

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

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

A low-pressure opening day in front of a small crowd of spectators at the ground was definitely a different experience from what the team will encounter at a packed Optus Stadium next week.

Stokes was superb in the series against the Indian team in the home summer, only to strain himself to injury. He missed the final Test with a shoulder tear.

The captain has not completed a full part in any of the team's past four series because of different fitness issues 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 full pace for two months and appeared in good condition on the match day, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his dismissals were gifted.

Will Jacks is not expected to feature in the first Test – the team look to have revealed their hand with the XI named here. Nevertheless, he may have moved himself ahead of the out-of-sorts Jacob 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 match may not have been the attack for the initial match.

Carse was absent from the first day because of illness, with his position going to Tongue. Tongue had Lions opener Ben McKinney edging to the keeper just after the break.

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

In the absence of Shoaib Bashir and with Wood leaving the field, Joe Root was asked to bowl 14 overs of his spin bowling. It was average performance, conceding 117 at an run rate of more than eight.

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