Stokes Takes 6 Wickets in England Ashes Warm-up

Practice match, Perth venue (day one of 3)

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

National team: still to bat

Ben Stokes produced six wickets in his return to play after July but England encountered an injury concern involving Mark Wood on the opening day of their Test preparation against the development squad in Perth.

The England captain, returning after approximately four months out with a shoulder injury, delivered sixteen overs across three bowling spells for his six for fifty-two against the Lions – all to catches taken on the on-side.

Pace bowler Wood, also making his comeback after nine months out with a knee problem, delivered a pre-planned number 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 drained the energy out of the day, as the Lions were dismissed for three hundred eighty-two on a slow track after an uncontested toss at the venue.

The tourists wanted to bowl first to accumulate bowling time before the first Ashes Test at the main venue, beginning on November 21st.

In a potential indication towards their opening Test strategy, the visiting team fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialist bowlers plus Stokes – and left off-spinner Bashir in the Lions.

Bethell didn't strengthen his case for selection in the Test side, making just two runs, but Jacks boosted his claim to be selected later in the tour by hitting eighty-four.

McKinney, Cox, teenage Thomas Rew and Potts also scored fifties.

England's plan to play a single practice match against the Lions has been criticized by some ex-players but Stokes hit back by calling the doubters "has-beens".

A low-pressure first day in front of a smattering of fans at the ground was certainly a different experience from what England will encounter at a sold-out Optus Stadium next week.

Stokes was superb in the contest against the Indian team in the domestic season, only to strain himself to injury. He was absent from the final Test with a torn shoulder.

The captain has not completed a full part in any of England's past four tours because of various injuries and the tourists' chances of regaining the series are vastly diminished if he misses any of the five matches in the host country.

He has been bowling at maximum speed for 60 days and appeared in fine shape on Wednesday, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his dismissals were gifted.

Jacks is not expected to feature in the first Test – England look to have shown their hand with the XI selected here. Still, he may have nudged himself ahead of the out-of-sorts Jacob Bethell with his 84, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

Prior to the concern over Wood, the five fast bowlers in the team lineup for this game may not have been the bowling unit for the initial match.

Brydon Carse missed the opening day because of sickness, with his place going to Tongue. Tongue had opening batsman McKinney edging to the keeper just after the break.

Though the captain took the scalps, Jofra Archer impressed observers. He was lively with the fresh ball and once more after lunch, when he discomforted Jacks.

In the omission of Bashir and with Wood departing, Root was required to deliver 14 overs of his off-spin. It was mediocre fare, conceding 117 runs at an economy of more than eight.

Joe Root at least took a scalp in the final session when Fisher somehow hit a full toss to mid-on before Archer bounced out Potts for 53 with the final ball of the day.