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

Practice game, Lilac Hill (first day of 3)

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

National team: still to bat

The England captain delivered six wickets in his initial appearance after July but England faced an injury concern involving Mark Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up against the development squad in Perth.

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

Fast bowler Mark Wood, also making his comeback after nine months away with a knee injury, delivered a scheduled amount of eight overs before exiting the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring issue. He will undergo scanning on Friday.

Wood's injury drained the intensity out of the day, as the Lions were bowled out for three hundred eighty-two on a sluggish pitch after an automatic toss at the venue.

The tourists aimed to field first to get overs in their legs before the initial Test match at the main venue, beginning on November 21st.

In a possible hint towards their first-Test plans, the tourists selected an all-pace attack – four specialist bowlers plus Stokes – and omitted off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in the Lions.

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

Ben McKinney, Jordan Cox, teenage Thomas Rew and Matthew Potts also scored half-centuries.

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

A low-pressure opening day in front of a smattering of spectators at the ground was certainly a different experience from what England will face at a packed 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 injury. He missed the final Test with a shoulder tear.

The captain has not managed a full part in any of the team's past four series because of various injuries and the team's chances of regaining the Ashes are significantly reduced if he is absent from any of the five matches in the host country.

He has been practicing at full pace for 60 days and appeared in fine shape on the match day, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his wickets were presented.

Jacks is unlikely to feature in the first Test – England look to have shown their hand with the eleven named here. Still, he may have moved himself ahead of the out-of-sorts Bethell with his 84, which came at almost a run a ball.

Prior to the concern over Wood, the five seamers in the team lineup for this game may not have been the attack for the first Test.

Carse was absent from the opening day because of illness, with his position going to Josh Tongue. Josh Tongue had Lions opener McKinney caught behind just after lunch.

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

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

Joe Root at least claimed a wicket in the closing stages when Matt Fisher unexpectedly struck a full toss to the fielder before Archer bounced out Potts for fifty-three with the last delivery of the day.