Ben Stokes Takes Six Wickets in English Test Series Preparation Match

Practice match, Perth venue (day one of three)

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

National team: awaiting batting

The England captain delivered 6 scalps in his first action following July but England encountered an fitness worry regarding fast bowler Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up versus the development squad in Western Australia.

The England captain, making his comeback after almost four months away with a shoulder problem, delivered 16 overs across three bowling spells for his six for fifty-two versus the Lions – each to catches on the on-side.

Fast bowler Wood, himself returning after 9 months out with a knee injury, bowled a pre-planned number of 8 overs before departing the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring issue. He will have a scan on the following day.

Wood's injury removed the intensity out of the day, as the England Lions were dismissed for three hundred eighty-two on a slow track after an automatic toss at Lilac Hill.

England aimed to bowl first to build bowling fitness before the initial Test match at the main venue, beginning on 21 November.

In a potential indication towards their first-Test plans, the visiting team selected an all-pace attack – four specialists plus the captain – and omitted spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in the Lions.

Jacob Bethell didn't strengthen his claim for selection in the Test team, making just two runs, but Will Jacks enhanced his claim to be selected during the series by hitting eighty-four.

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

England's decision to play a single warm-up game against the Lions has been criticized by some former players but the captain responded by labeling the doubters "past players".

A relaxed opening day in front of a small crowd of fans at the ground was certainly a different experience from what England will encounter at a packed Optus Stadium the following week.

Stokes was excellent in the contest against India in the home summer, only to push himself to breaking point. He was absent from the final Test with a torn shoulder.

The captain has not managed a complete participation in any of England's past four series because of different fitness issues and the team's hopes of winning back the series are vastly diminished if he misses any of the five Tests in Australia.

He has been bowling at full pace 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 dismissals were presented.

Jacks is not expected to play in the opening match – the team look to have shown their intentions with the XI named here. Nevertheless, he may have moved himself in front of the out-of-sorts Jacob Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at almost a run a ball.

Even before the concern over Wood, the five fast bowlers in the team lineup for this game may not have been the attack for the first Test.

Carse was absent from the opening day because of illness, with his place going to Tongue. Josh Tongue had Lions opener Ben McKinney edging to the keeper just after lunch.

Though Stokes took the scalps, Jofra Archer impressed observers. He was energetic with the fresh ball and once more after lunch, when he caused problems for Jacks.

In the omission of Shoaib Bashir and with Mark Wood departing, Root was required to bowl fourteen overs of his spin bowling. It was mediocre fare, costing 117 at an economy of over eight.

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