Ben Stokes Secures Six Wickets in England Test Series Preparation Match

Practice game, Perth venue (first day of 3)

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

England XI: still to bat

Ben Stokes produced 6 scalps in his initial appearance since July but England encountered an injury concern about fast bowler Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up against the development squad in Perth.

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

Pace bowler Wood, himself returning after 9 months away with a knee injury, delivered a pre-planned number of eight overs before leaving the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring problem. He will receive scanning on Friday.

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

England aimed to bowl first to build bowling fitness before the first Ashes Test at the main venue, starting on 21 November.

In a potential indication towards their opening Test strategy, the tourists fielded an all-pace attack – four specialist bowlers plus Stokes – and omitted off-spinner Bashir in the development squad.

Jacob Bethell didn't strengthen his case for selection in the Test team, making only two, but Jacks boosted his credentials to be selected during the series by swiping 84.

McKinney, Cox, teenage Rew and Matthew Potts also scored half-centuries.

England's plan to play a solitary warm-up game against the Lions has been questioned by some ex-players but Stokes hit back by calling the critics "has-beens".

A low-pressure opening day in front of a small crowd of fans at Lilac Hill was definitely a different experience from what England will encounter at a sold-out main stadium the following week.

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

The captain has not managed a complete participation in any of England's previous four tours because of various injuries and the team's chances of regaining the series are vastly diminished if he is absent from any of the five Tests in Australia.

He has been bowling at maximum speed for two months 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 not expected to feature in the first Test – the team look to have shown their intentions with the eleven named here. Nevertheless, he may have moved himself in front of the out-of-sorts Jacob Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

Even before the doubt over Wood, the five fast bowlers in the team lineup for this match may not have been the bowling unit for the initial match.

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

Although Stokes took the scalps, Jofra Archer impressed observers. He was lively with the new ball and once more after lunch, when he caused problems for Will Jacks.

In the absence of Shoaib Bashir and with Mark Wood leaving the field, Joe Root was asked to bowl 14 overs of his off-spin. It was average performance, conceding 117 at an run rate of over eight.

Root at least took a wicket in the closing stages when Fisher somehow struck a full toss to the fielder before Archer bounced out Matthew Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.