Ben Stokes Secures 6 Wickets in English Test Series Warm-up

Tour game, Perth venue (day one of 3)

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

England XI: awaiting batting

Ben Stokes delivered six wickets in his return to play after July but the tourists encountered an injury concern regarding fast bowler Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up versus the development squad in Perth.

The England captain, making his comeback after almost four months away with a shoulder injury, delivered sixteen overs across three bowling spells for his 6-52 against England Lions – each to catches on the leg side.

Fast bowler Wood, himself returning after 9 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 issue. He will receive scanning on the following day.

The Wood situation removed the intensity out of the day, as the England Lions were bowled out for 382 on a sluggish pitch after an automatic toss at Lilac Hill.

The tourists aimed to field first to accumulate bowling time before the first Ashes Test at the main venue, starting on November 21st.

In a potential indication towards their opening Test strategy, the tourists selected an fast bowling lineup – four specialist bowlers plus Stokes – and left spin bowler Bashir in the Lions.

Jacob Bethell didn't strengthen his case for inclusion in the Test team, making just two runs, but Jacks boosted his claim to be called upon later in the tour by hitting 84.

Ben McKinney, Jordan Cox, teenage Rew and Potts also scored half-centuries.

England's decision to play a single practice match against the Lions has been criticized by some ex-players but the captain responded by calling the critics "has-beens".

A low-pressure opening day in front of a small crowd of spectators at the ground was definitely a world away from what England will encounter at a packed main stadium next week.

The captain was superb in the series against India in the domestic season, only to strain himself to injury. He was absent from the last match with a torn shoulder.

The captain has not completed a full part in any of the team's past four series because of various injuries and the team's hopes of regaining the Ashes are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five matches in Australia.

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

Will Jacks is not expected to play in the first Test – England look to have revealed their intentions with the eleven named here. Still, he may have moved himself in front of the struggling Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

Prior to the concern over Mark Wood, the five seamers in the England XI for this match may not have been the attack for the first Test.

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

Although Stokes took the wickets, Archer caught the eye. He was lively with the new ball and once more after lunch, when he discomforted Will Jacks.

In the absence of Shoaib Bashir and with Mark Wood departing, Joe Root was required to deliver fourteen overs of his off-spin. It was mediocre fare, conceding 117 at an economy of over eight.

Joe Root at least took a wicket in the closing stages when Matt Fisher unexpectedly struck a full delivery to mid-on before Jofra Archer dismissed with a bouncer Potts for fifty-three with the final ball of the day.