Stokes Takes Six Scalps in English Ashes Warm-up

Practice game, Lilac Hill (first day of three)

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

National team: still to bat

Ben Stokes produced six wickets in his return to play following July but England encountered an injury concern involving fast bowler Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up versus the development squad in Perth.

Stokes, returning after almost four months out with a shoulder injury, bowled sixteen overs across three spells for his 6-52 versus England Lions – all to catches taken on the on-side.

Pace bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after 9 months out with a knee problem, delivered a pre-planned number of eight overs before exiting the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring issue. He will have a scan on Friday.

Wood's injury sucked the energy out of the day, as the Lions were dismissed for three hundred eighty-two on a sluggish pitch after an automatic toss at Lilac Hill.

The tourists wanted to bowl first to get overs in their legs before the initial Test match at Optus Stadium, starting on 21 November.

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

Jacob Bethell didn't strengthen his claim for inclusion in the Test team, making only two, but Jacks boosted his claim to be selected later in the tour by swiping eighty-four.

McKinney, Jordan Cox, teenage Rew and Potts also scored fifties.

The team'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 "past players".

A relaxed opening day in front of a small crowd of spectators at Lilac Hill was certainly a world away from what the team will encounter at a packed Optus Stadium the following week.

Stokes was superb in the contest against India in the domestic season, only to push himself to injury. 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 series because of various injuries and the tourists' chances of winning back the series are vastly diminished if he misses any of the five Tests in the host country.

He has been bowling at maximum speed for 60 days and looked in good condition on Wednesday, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his dismissals were presented.

Will Jacks is unlikely to play in the opening match – the team look to have shown 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 nearly run-a-ball pace.

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

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

Though Stokes took the scalps, Jofra Archer caught the eye. He was lively with the new ball and once more after lunch, when he caused problems for Jacks.

In the omission of Bashir and with Wood leaving the field, Root was asked to deliver 14 overs of his spin bowling. It was mediocre fare, conceding 117 runs at an run rate of more than eight.

Root at least claimed a scalp in the final session when Matt Fisher unexpectedly struck a full toss to the fielder before Archer bounced out Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.