Ben Stokes Claims Six Scalps in English Test Series Preparation Match

Practice match, Lilac Hill (day one of 3)

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

National team: yet to bat

Ben Stokes delivered 6 scalps in his return to play following July but England encountered an fitness worry about Mark Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up against England Lions in Western Australia.

Stokes, making his comeback after nearly four months out with a shoulder injury, delivered sixteen overs across three bowling spells for his 6-52 versus England Lions – each to catches on the on-side.

Pace bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after 9 months out with a knee problem, bowled a scheduled amount of 8 overs before leaving the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring issue. 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 sluggish pitch after an uncontested toss at Lilac Hill.

The tourists wanted to bowl first to get overs in their legs before the first Ashes Test at Optus Stadium, beginning on November 21st.

In a possible hint towards their first-Test plans, the visiting team fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialists plus Stokes – and left spin bowler Bashir in the development squad.

Bethell failed to press his case 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, Cox, teenage Rew and Potts also scored fifties.

The team's plan to play a single warm-up game against the development squad has been questioned by some former players but the captain hit back by labeling the critics "past players".

A relaxed opening day in front of a small crowd of fans at Lilac Hill was definitely a different experience from what England will face at a packed Optus Stadium next week.

The captain was excellent in the contest against the Indian team in the home summer, 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 England's previous four tours because of different fitness issues and the team's hopes of winning back the Ashes are significantly reduced if he is absent from any of the five matches in the host country.

He has been bowling at maximum speed for two months and appeared in good condition on the match day, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his dismissals were gifted.

Will Jacks is unlikely to play in the first Test – England look to have revealed their intentions with the XI named here. Nevertheless, he may have nudged himself in front of the out-of-sorts Bethell with his 84, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

Even before the doubt over Wood, the five seamers in the England XI for this match may not have been the bowling unit for the first Test.

Carse was absent from the opening day because of sickness, with his position going to Josh Tongue. Josh Tongue had opening batsman Ben McKinney caught behind just after lunch.

Though Stokes took the wickets, Jofra Archer impressed observers. He was energetic with the fresh ball and again after the interval, when he caused problems for Will Jacks.

In the absence of Bashir and with Wood departing, Root was asked to deliver fourteen overs of his spin bowling. It was average performance, conceding 117 at an run rate of over eight.

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