Stokes Claims Six Scalps in English Ashes Preparation Match

Tour match, Perth venue (day one of three)

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

National team: still to bat

The England captain achieved six wickets in his initial appearance following July but England faced an injury concern about fast bowler Wood on the first day of their Test preparation versus England Lions in Perth.

Stokes, making his comeback after approximately four months away with a shoulder injury, bowled 16 overs across three bowling spells for his six for fifty-two against England Lions – all to catches on the leg side.

Fast bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after nine months away with a knee problem, delivered a pre-planned number of 8 overs before exiting the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring issue. He will undergo scanning on the following day.

The Wood situation sucked the energy out of the day, as the England Lions were dismissed 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, beginning on November 21st.

In a possible hint towards their opening Test strategy, the visiting team fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialist bowlers plus Stokes – and left off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in the development squad.

Jacob Bethell failed to press his claim for selection in the Test team, making only two, but Will Jacks boosted his claim to be selected later in the tour by hitting 84.

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

The team's decision to play a solitary warm-up game against the Lions has been criticized by some ex-players but the captain responded by labeling the critics "has-beens".

A relaxed opening day in front of a small crowd of spectators at the ground was definitely a world away from what England will face at a sold-out main stadium the following week.

Stokes was excellent in the series against India in the domestic season, only to strain himself to injury. He was absent from the final Test with a torn shoulder.

The skipper has not completed a full part in any of England's previous four series because of various injuries and the tourists' chances of regaining the series are vastly diminished if he misses any of the five Tests in the host country.

He has been practicing at full pace for 60 days and appeared in good condition on Wednesday, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his dismissals were presented.

Jacks is not expected to play in the first Test – the team look to have revealed their intentions with the XI selected here. Still, he may have moved himself ahead of the out-of-sorts Jacob Bethell with his 84, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

Prior to the doubt over Wood, the five fast bowlers in the England XI for this game may not have been the bowling unit for the initial match.

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

Although the captain took the scalps, Archer impressed observers. He was energetic with the new ball and again after the interval, when he caused problems for Will Jacks.

In the omission of Shoaib Bashir and with Wood leaving the field, Root was asked to deliver 14 overs of his off-spin. It was average performance, conceding 117 at an economy of more than eight.

Root at least claimed a scalp in the final session when Fisher unexpectedly hit a full toss to mid-on before Archer dismissed with a bouncer Potts for fifty-three with the last delivery of the day.