Stokes Takes 6 Wickets in England Test Series Warm-up

Tour game, Perth venue (day one of 3)

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

England XI: awaiting batting

The England captain achieved 6 scalps in his first action after July but England faced an injury concern regarding Mark Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up against England Lions in Western Australia.

The England captain, making his comeback after approximately four months out with a shoulder injury, bowled sixteen overs across three bowling spells for his 6-52 versus England Lions – all to catches taken on the leg side.

Pace bowler Wood, also making his comeback after 9 months out with a knee problem, delivered a pre-planned number of 8 overs before leaving the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring problem. He will have a scan on Friday.

Wood's injury drained the energy out of the day, as the Lions were bowled out for 382 on a slow, low surface after an uncontested toss at the venue.

England aimed to field first to get overs in their legs before the first Ashes Test at the main venue, starting on 21 November.

In a possible hint towards their first-Test plans, the tourists selected an fast bowling lineup – four specialist bowlers plus the captain – and left off-spinner Bashir in the Lions.

Jacob Bethell didn't strengthen his case for selection in the Test side, making only two, but Jacks enhanced his claim to be called upon during the series by scoring 84.

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

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

A relaxed first day in front of a smattering of spectators at the ground was definitely a world away from what the team will encounter at a packed Optus Stadium the following week.

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

The skipper has not completed a full part in any of England's previous four tours because of various injuries and the tourists' hopes of regaining the series are significantly reduced if he is absent from any of the five Tests in Australia.

He has been bowling at maximum speed for 60 days and looked in fine shape on Wednesday, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his dismissals were presented.

Jacks is not expected to feature in the first Test – the team look to have shown their hand with the eleven selected here. Nevertheless, he may have nudged himself ahead of the struggling Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

Prior to the doubt over Wood, the five seamers in the team lineup for this match may not have been the attack for the initial match.

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

Though the captain took the scalps, Jofra Archer caught the eye. He was lively with the fresh ball and again after lunch, when he discomforted Jacks.

In the absence of Shoaib Bashir and with Mark Wood leaving the field, Joe Root was asked to deliver 14 overs of his off-spin. It was mediocre fare, costing 117 at an run rate of more than eight.

Root at least claimed a wicket in the final session when Fisher somehow struck a full toss to mid-on before Archer dismissed with a bouncer Matthew Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.