Ben Stokes Claims 6 Wickets in England Ashes Warm-up

Tour match, Perth venue (first day of 3)

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

National team: awaiting batting

The England captain produced six wickets in his initial appearance following July but England faced an fitness worry regarding Mark Wood on the opening day of their Test preparation against England Lions in Perth.

Stokes, returning after approximately four months out with a shoulder injury, delivered sixteen overs across three spells for his 6-52 against England Lions – each to catches on the on-side.

Pace bowler Mark Wood, also making his comeback after nine months out with a knee injury, delivered a scheduled amount of 8 overs before leaving the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring issue. He will have a scan on Friday.

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

England aimed to bowl first to get overs in their legs before the initial Test match at the main venue, beginning on 21 November.

In a possible hint towards their opening Test strategy, the visiting team selected an all-pace attack – four specialist bowlers plus the captain – and left spin bowler Bashir in the development squad.

Jacob Bethell failed to press his case for inclusion in the Test side, making just two runs, but Jacks boosted his credentials to be called upon later in the tour by hitting eighty-four.

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

The team's decision to play a single warm-up game against the development squad has been questioned by some former players but Stokes responded by labeling the critics "former players".

A relaxed first day in front of a small crowd of spectators at Lilac Hill was definitely a different experience from what the team will face at a packed main stadium next week.

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

The skipper has not managed a full part in any of England's past four tours because of different fitness issues and the tourists' chances of regaining the Ashes are vastly diminished if he is absent from any of the five Tests in Australia.

He has been bowling at maximum speed for 60 days and looked in good condition on the match day, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his wickets were gifted.

Jacks is not expected to feature in the opening match – England look to have revealed their hand with the eleven named here. Still, he may have moved 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 fast bowlers in the team lineup for this game may not have been the attack for the initial match.

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

Although Stokes took the scalps, Archer caught the eye. He was lively with the fresh ball and once more after lunch, when he caused problems for Will Jacks.

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

Root at least claimed a scalp in the final session when Fisher somehow struck a full delivery to mid-on before Jofra Archer dismissed with a bouncer Matthew Potts for 53 with the final ball of the day.