Stokes Claims Six Scalps in England Test Series Warm-up

Tour game, Perth venue (day one of three)

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

National team: still to bat

Ben Stokes achieved 6 scalps in his initial appearance after July but the tourists encountered an injury concern about Mark Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up against England Lions in Perth.

The England captain, returning after approximately four months out with a shoulder problem, delivered 16 overs across three bowling spells for his 6-52 versus the Lions – each to catches on the on-side.

Pace bowler Wood, himself returning after 9 months out with a knee problem, delivered a scheduled amount of 8 overs before leaving the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring issue. He will receive scanning on Friday.

The Wood situation drained the energy out of the day, as the Lions were dismissed for 382 on a sluggish pitch after an automatic toss at Lilac Hill.

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

In a potential indication towards their first-Test plans, the visiting team selected an all-pace attack – four specialists plus the captain – and omitted off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in the Lions.

Bethell didn't strengthen his case for inclusion in the Test team, making just two runs, but Will Jacks boosted his claim to be selected during the series by hitting eighty-four.

Ben McKinney, Cox, 17-year-old Thomas Rew and Potts also made half-centuries.

England's plan to play a solitary warm-up game against the Lions has been criticized by some former players but the captain hit back by labeling the doubters "former players".

A relaxed first day in front of a small crowd of fans at the ground was definitely a world away from what the team will face at a sold-out Optus Stadium next week.

The captain was excellent in the contest against India in the home summer, only to push himself to breaking point. He missed the last match with a torn shoulder.

The skipper has not managed a complete participation in any of England's past four tours because of various injuries and the team's hopes of winning back the Ashes 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 appeared in fine shape on Wednesday, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his wickets were gifted.

Will Jacks is not expected to feature in the opening match – England look to have shown their hand with the XI named here. Still, he may have moved himself ahead of the struggling Jacob Bethell with his 84, which came at almost a run a ball.

Even before the doubt over Wood, the five fast bowlers in the England XI for this game may not have been the attack for the initial match.

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

Though the captain took the wickets, Jofra Archer caught the eye. He was energetic with the new ball and again after the interval, when he discomforted Jacks.

In the omission of Shoaib Bashir and with Wood leaving the field, Root was asked to deliver 14 overs of his off-spin. It was mediocre fare, conceding 117 runs at an economy of over eight.

Root at least claimed a scalp in the final session when Matt Fisher somehow struck a full toss to mid-on before Archer bounced out Matthew Potts for fifty-three with the last delivery of the day.