Stokes Takes 6 Scalps in England Test Series Preparation Match

Tour game, Perth venue (day one of three)

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

England XI: yet to bat

Ben Stokes achieved six wickets in his initial appearance since July but England encountered an injury concern involving fast bowler Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up versus England Lions in Perth.

The England captain, making his comeback after almost four months out with a shoulder problem, bowled sixteen overs across three spells for his 6-52 against the Lions – all to catches on the on-side.

Pace bowler Wood, himself returning after 9 months away with a knee problem, delivered a pre-planned number of 8 overs before departing the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring problem. He will receive scanning on Friday.

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

England aimed to field first to accumulate bowling time before the initial Test match at the main venue, starting on 21 November.

In a potential indication towards their first-Test plans, the tourists selected an fast bowling lineup – four specialist bowlers plus Stokes – and left off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in the Lions.

Bethell didn't strengthen his case for selection in the Test side, making only two, but Will Jacks enhanced his claim to be called upon during the series by scoring 84.

Ben McKinney, Cox, 17-year-old Thomas Rew and Matthew Potts also made half-centuries.

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 "has-beens".

A low-pressure first day in front of a smattering of spectators at the ground was definitely a world away from what the team will encounter at a sold-out Optus Stadium the following week.

Stokes was superb in the contest against India in the domestic season, only to push himself to injury. He missed the last match with a shoulder tear.

The skipper has not managed a complete participation in any of England's past four series because of various injuries and the tourists' hopes of winning back the series are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five Tests in the host country.

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

Will Jacks is unlikely to play in the first Test – England look to have shown their hand with the eleven named here. Still, he may have moved himself ahead of the out-of-sorts Bethell with his 84, which came at almost a run a ball.

Even before the doubt over Wood, the five seamers in the England XI for this match may not have been the bowling unit for the first Test.

Brydon Carse was absent from the opening day because of illness, with his position going to Josh Tongue. Josh Tongue had opening batsman Ben McKinney caught behind just after the break.

Though the captain took the wickets, Archer impressed observers. He was energetic with the new ball and again after lunch, when he caused problems for Will Jacks.

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

Joe Root at least claimed a wicket in the final session when Fisher unexpectedly struck a full delivery to the fielder before Jofra Archer dismissed with a bouncer Matthew Potts for 53 with the final ball of the day.