Stokes Takes Six Scalps in England Test Series Warm-up

Practice game, Perth venue (day one of three)

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

National team: awaiting batting

Ben Stokes delivered 6 scalps in his first action after July but the tourists encountered an injury concern involving fast bowler Wood on the opening day of their Test preparation against the development squad in Western Australia.

The England captain, returning after almost four months out with a shoulder injury, delivered sixteen overs across three bowling spells for his six for fifty-two against England Lions – all to catches on the leg side.

Pace bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after 9 months out with a knee problem, delivered 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 bowled out 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 first Ashes Test at Optus Stadium, beginning on 21 November.

In a potential indication towards their opening Test strategy, the visiting team selected an all-pace attack – four specialists plus Stokes – and left off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in the Lions.

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

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

The team's plan to play a solitary warm-up game against the Lions has been questioned by some former players but Stokes responded by labeling the critics "has-beens".

A low-pressure opening day in front of a small crowd of spectators at the ground was definitely a different experience from what the team will encounter at a sold-out Optus Stadium next week.

The captain was excellent in the contest against the Indian team in the domestic season, only to strain himself to breaking point. He missed the last match with a torn shoulder.

The skipper has not managed a full part in any of the team's previous four tours because of various injuries and the team's hopes of regaining the Ashes are significantly reduced if he is absent from any of the five Tests in Australia.

He has been practicing at maximum speed for 60 days and appeared in fine shape on the match day, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his dismissals were gifted.

Will Jacks is unlikely to feature in the opening match – the team look to have revealed their hand with the eleven selected here. Still, he may have moved himself in front of the struggling Jacob Bethell with his 84, which came at almost a run a ball.

Even before the concern over Wood, the five seamers 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 place going to Josh Tongue. Josh Tongue had Lions opener McKinney caught behind just after the break.

Though Stokes took the scalps, Archer caught the eye. He was energetic with the fresh ball and again after the interval, when he discomforted Will Jacks.

In the absence of Shoaib Bashir and with Wood departing, Root was asked to bowl fourteen overs of his spin bowling. It was average performance, costing 117 at an run rate of more than eight.

Joe Root at least took a wicket in the closing stages when Fisher somehow hit a full delivery to the fielder before Jofra Archer dismissed with a bouncer Matthew Potts for 53 with the final ball of the day.