Ben Stokes Claims Six Scalps in English Ashes Preparation Match

Practice game, Perth venue (first day of 3)

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

National team: yet to bat

The England captain delivered 6 scalps in his initial appearance since July but England faced an injury concern about fast bowler Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up against the development squad in Perth.

The England captain, making his comeback after nearly four months away with a shoulder injury, bowled 16 overs across three spells for his six for fifty-two versus the Lions – all to catches taken on the on-side.

Pace bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after nine months away with a knee injury, delivered a pre-planned number of eight overs before departing the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring issue. He will have a scan on Friday.

The Wood situation sucked the energy out of the day, as the Lions were dismissed for 382 on a slow, low surface after an uncontested toss at Lilac Hill.

England wanted to field first to build bowling fitness before the initial Test match at Optus Stadium, beginning on 21 November.

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

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

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

England's plan to play a solitary practice match against the Lions has been criticized by some former players but the captain responded by calling the critics "has-beens".

A relaxed first day in front of a small crowd of spectators at the ground was certainly a different experience from what the team will encounter at a packed Optus Stadium next week.

Stokes was excellent in the contest against the Indian team in the domestic season, only to push himself to breaking point. He was absent from the last match with a torn shoulder.

The skipper has not completed a full part in any of the team's previous four tours because of various injuries and the team's hopes of regaining the series are vastly diminished if he is absent from any of the five matches in the host country.

He has been practicing at full pace for two months and looked in fine shape on the match day, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his wickets were gifted.

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 nudged himself ahead of the out-of-sorts Jacob Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

Prior to the concern over Mark Wood, the five seamers in the team lineup for this game may not have been the bowling unit for the initial match.

Brydon Carse missed the opening day because of sickness, with his place going to Tongue. Josh Tongue had opening batsman McKinney edging to the keeper just after lunch.

Although the captain took the wickets, Jofra 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 departing, Joe Root was asked to bowl fourteen overs of his spin bowling. It was average performance, conceding 117 at an run rate of more than eight.

Root at least took a wicket in the closing stages when Matt Fisher somehow hit a full delivery to the fielder before Jofra Archer dismissed with a bouncer Potts for 53 with the final ball of the day.