Ben Stokes Takes 6 Scalps in England Test Series Warm-up

Practice match, Lilac Hill (first day of 3)

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

England XI: still to bat

Ben Stokes achieved 6 scalps in his return to play following July but England faced an injury concern involving Mark Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up versus the development squad in Perth.

Stokes, returning after approximately four months away with a shoulder problem, delivered 16 overs across three bowling spells for his six for fifty-two against England Lions – each to catches taken on the on-side.

Pace bowler Wood, also making his comeback after 9 months out with a knee problem, delivered a scheduled amount of eight overs before leaving the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring problem. He will have a scan on Friday.

The Wood situation sucked the intensity out of the day, as the England Lions were bowled out for 382 on a sluggish pitch after an automatic toss at Lilac Hill.

The tourists wanted to field first to accumulate bowling time before the initial Test match at the main venue, starting on 21 November.

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

Jacob Bethell failed to press his case for inclusion in the Test side, making just two runs, but Will Jacks boosted his credentials to be selected during the series by hitting 84.

McKinney, Jordan Cox, 17-year-old Rew and Matthew Potts also scored fifties.

England's plan to play a single practice match against the development squad has been questioned by some ex-players but the captain responded by labeling the doubters "past players".

A relaxed first day in front of a small crowd of fans at Lilac Hill was certainly a world away from what England will encounter at a sold-out Optus Stadium the following week.

The captain was excellent in the contest against the Indian team in the home summer, only to push himself to breaking point. He missed the final Test with a torn shoulder.

The captain has not managed a full part in any of England's past four series because of different fitness issues and the team's hopes of regaining 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 appeared in fine shape on Wednesday, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his dismissals were gifted.

Will Jacks is unlikely to feature in the first Test – England look to have revealed their hand with the eleven named here. Nevertheless, he may have nudged himself ahead of the struggling Jacob Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

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

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

Though the captain took the scalps, Archer caught the eye. He was energetic with the fresh ball and once more after the interval, when he caused problems for Will Jacks.

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

Joe Root at least claimed a wicket in the final session when Fisher somehow hit a full delivery to the fielder before Jofra Archer dismissed with a bouncer Matthew Potts for fifty-three with the last delivery of the day.