Stokes Takes 6 Wickets in England Ashes Warm-up

Tour match, Perth venue (first day of 3)

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

National team: still to bat

Ben Stokes produced 6 scalps in his return to play since 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, returning after nearly four months away with a shoulder problem, bowled sixteen overs across three bowling spells for his 6-52 versus the Lions – each to catches taken on the leg side.

Fast bowler Wood, himself returning after 9 months out with a knee injury, delivered a pre-planned number of 8 overs before exiting the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring problem. He will undergo scanning on Friday.

Wood's injury removed the intensity out of the day, as the England Lions were dismissed for 382 on a slow track after an uncontested toss at Lilac Hill.

England aimed to field first to accumulate bowling time 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 selected an fast bowling lineup – four specialist bowlers plus Stokes – and left spin bowler Bashir in the development squad.

Bethell failed to press his case for inclusion in the Test side, making only two, but Will Jacks boosted his credentials to be called upon later in the tour by swiping 84.

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

The team's plan to play a single practice match against the Lions has been criticized by some ex-players but Stokes hit back by labeling the critics "former players".

A relaxed opening day in front of a smattering of fans at Lilac Hill was certainly a different experience from what the team will encounter at a packed main stadium the following week.

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

The skipper has not completed a complete participation in any of England's previous four series because of various injuries and the team's chances of winning back the series are vastly diminished if he misses any of the five matches in the host country.

He has been bowling at full pace for 60 days and appeared in good condition on the match day, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his wickets were presented.

Jacks is unlikely to feature in the opening match – England look to have shown their intentions with the eleven named here. Still, he may have nudged himself ahead of the out-of-sorts Bethell with his 84, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

Even before the doubt over Wood, the five fast bowlers in the team lineup for this game may not have been the attack for the first Test.

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

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

In the absence of Shoaib Bashir and with Mark Wood leaving the field, Joe Root was asked to bowl 14 overs of his off-spin. It was mediocre fare, costing 117 at an run rate of over eight.

Joe Root at least took a wicket in the closing stages when Fisher unexpectedly hit a full toss to the fielder before Jofra Archer bounced out Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.