Ben Stokes Claims 6 Scalps in England Ashes Warm-up

Practice game, Lilac Hill (first day of 3)

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

England XI: awaiting batting

Ben Stokes delivered 6 scalps in his first action since July but England faced an fitness worry involving 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 nearly four months away with a shoulder injury, bowled sixteen overs across three bowling spells for his 6-52 versus England Lions – each to catches taken on the on-side.

Fast bowler Wood, also making his comeback after 9 months out with a knee problem, bowled a pre-planned number of 8 overs before leaving the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring problem. He will have a scan on the following day.

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

The tourists wanted to bowl first to accumulate bowling time before the initial Test match at the main venue, starting on 21 November.

In a possible hint towards their opening Test strategy, the visiting team selected an all-pace attack – four specialists plus the captain – and omitted off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in the development squad.

Jacob Bethell failed to press his case for selection in the Test side, making just two runs, but Will Jacks boosted his credentials to be called upon later in the tour by hitting 84.

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

England's decision to play a solitary warm-up game against the development squad has been questioned by some ex-players but the captain responded by labeling the doubters "former players".

A relaxed first day in front of a small crowd 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.

Stokes was excellent in the series against India in the home summer, only to push himself to injury. He missed the last match with a shoulder tear.

The captain has not completed a full part in any of the team's previous four series because of various injuries and the tourists' hopes of regaining the Ashes are vastly diminished if he is absent from any of the five matches in Australia.

He has been practicing at maximum speed for two months and looked in good condition on the match day, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his dismissals were presented.

Jacks is not expected to play in the opening match – England look to have revealed their intentions with the eleven named here. Still, he may have nudged himself ahead of the struggling Bethell with his 84, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

Prior to the concern over Wood, the five fast bowlers in the team lineup for this match may not have been the attack for the initial match.

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

Though the captain took the wickets, Archer impressed observers. He was lively with the fresh ball and once more after lunch, when he discomforted Jacks.

In the omission of Bashir and with Mark Wood departing, Root was required to bowl 14 overs of his off-spin. It was average performance, conceding 117 runs at an run rate of more than eight.

Root at least took a scalp in the final session when Matt Fisher unexpectedly hit a full toss to mid-on before Archer bounced out Matthew Potts for fifty-three with the last delivery of the day.