Stokes Secures 6 Scalps in English Ashes Warm-up

Practice game, Lilac Hill (day one of 3)

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

National team: awaiting batting

The England captain delivered 6 scalps in his return to play since July but the tourists encountered an fitness worry regarding fast bowler Wood on the opening day of their Test preparation versus England Lions in Perth.

The England captain, making his comeback after approximately four months away with a shoulder injury, delivered 16 overs across three spells for his 6-52 against the Lions – each to catches on the on-side.

Pace bowler Wood, also making his comeback after 9 months away with a knee problem, bowled a scheduled amount of eight overs before departing the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring problem. He will have a scan on Friday.

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

The tourists wanted to bowl first to build bowling fitness before the initial Test match at Optus Stadium, starting on November 21st.

In a possible hint towards their opening Test strategy, the tourists selected an fast bowling lineup – four specialist bowlers plus the captain – and left off-spinner Bashir in the development squad.

Jacob Bethell failed to press his claim for selection in the Test team, making only two, but Jacks enhanced his credentials to be called upon during the series by hitting eighty-four.

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

England's decision to play a single practice match against the development squad has been questioned by some former players but the captain hit back by calling the doubters "past players".

A low-pressure opening day in front of a smattering of fans at the ground was definitely a different experience from what the team will face at a sold-out Optus Stadium the following week.

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

The captain has not completed a full part in any of England's past four tours because of various injuries and the team's hopes of regaining the Ashes are vastly diminished if he is absent from any of the five matches in the host country.

He has been bowling at full pace for 60 days and looked in fine shape on the match day, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his wickets were gifted.

Jacks is unlikely to play in the opening match – England look to have shown their intentions with the XI named here. Still, he may have nudged himself ahead of the out-of-sorts Jacob Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at almost a run a ball.

Even before the doubt over Wood, the five fast bowlers in the England XI for this match may not have been the attack for the first Test.

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

Though the captain took the wickets, Jofra Archer impressed observers. He was lively with the fresh ball and again after the interval, when he discomforted Jacks.

In the absence of Bashir and with Wood departing, Root was asked to deliver 14 overs of his off-spin. It was mediocre fare, costing 117 at an economy of over eight.

Root at least claimed a scalp in the closing stages when Matt Fisher unexpectedly struck a full toss to the fielder before Jofra Archer dismissed with a bouncer Matthew Potts for fifty-three with the final ball of the day.