Stokes Takes 6 Wickets in England Ashes Warm-up

Tour match, Lilac Hill (first day of 3)

England Lions 382: Will Jacks 84, Ben McKinney 67; Stokes 6-52

National team: still to bat

Ben Stokes delivered 6 scalps in his initial appearance after July but England faced an injury concern involving fast bowler Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up against England Lions in Perth.

Stokes, returning after nearly four months out with a shoulder problem, bowled sixteen overs across three bowling spells for his 6-52 against the Lions – each to catches on the leg side.

Fast bowler Mark Wood, also making his comeback after nine months out with a knee problem, delivered a pre-planned number of eight overs before exiting the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring problem. He will have a scan on the following day.

Wood's injury sucked the energy out of the day, as the Lions were bowled out for three hundred eighty-two on a slow track after an uncontested toss at Lilac Hill.

England aimed to bowl first to accumulate bowling time before the first Ashes Test at Optus Stadium, beginning on November 21st.

In a potential indication towards their first-Test plans, the visiting team fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialists plus the captain – and left off-spinner Bashir in the development squad.

Jacob Bethell failed to press his case for selection in the Test team, making just two runs, but Will Jacks boosted his claim to be selected later in the tour by swiping 84.

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

England's decision to play a solitary warm-up game against the development squad has been criticized by some ex-players but the captain responded by calling the doubters "has-beens".

A relaxed opening day in front of a small crowd of spectators at the ground was definitely a different experience from what the team will encounter at a packed main stadium the following week.

The captain was superb in the series against India in the domestic season, only to push himself to injury. He was absent from the final Test with a torn shoulder.

The skipper has not managed a complete participation in any of the team's past four series because of various injuries and the tourists' chances of winning back the Ashes are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five Tests in the host country.

He has been practicing at full pace for two months and appeared in fine shape on Wednesday, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his wickets were presented.

Jacks is unlikely to play in the opening match – England look to have shown their hand with the XI named here. Still, he may have nudged himself ahead of the struggling Jacob Bethell with his 84, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

Even before the doubt over Mark 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 opening day because of sickness, with his place going to Josh Tongue. Josh Tongue had opening batsman Ben McKinney edging to the keeper just after the break.

Although Stokes took the wickets, Archer caught the eye. He was lively with the new ball and once more after lunch, when he caused problems for Will Jacks.

In the absence of Bashir and with 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 more than eight.

Root at least took a wicket in the closing stages when Fisher unexpectedly struck a full delivery to mid-on before Archer bounced out Potts for 53 with the final ball of the day.