Ben Stokes Claims 6 Scalps in England Ashes Warm-up

Tour game, Perth venue (day one of three)

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

England XI: awaiting batting

Ben Stokes delivered 6 scalps in his initial appearance following July but the tourists encountered an fitness worry regarding Mark Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up versus the development squad in Perth.

Stokes, making his comeback after approximately four months out with a shoulder injury, bowled 16 overs across three spells for his 6-52 against the Lions – each to catches taken on the leg side.

Fast bowler Mark Wood, also making his comeback after nine months out with a knee problem, bowled a scheduled amount of 8 overs before exiting the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring problem. He will undergo scanning on Friday.

The Wood situation removed the intensity out of the day, as the England Lions were dismissed for three hundred eighty-two on a slow track after an uncontested toss at the venue.

The tourists wanted to bowl first to accumulate bowling time before the initial Test match at Optus Stadium, starting on 21 November.

In a potential indication towards their opening Test strategy, the tourists fielded an all-pace attack – four specialists plus Stokes – and left off-spinner Bashir in the development squad.

Bethell didn't strengthen his case for selection in the Test team, making just two runs, but Jacks enhanced his credentials to be called upon later in the tour by hitting eighty-four.

Ben McKinney, Cox, 17-year-old Rew and Matthew Potts also made fifties.

The team's plan to play a solitary practice match against the development squad has been criticized by some former players but Stokes hit back by calling the critics "former players".

A relaxed first day in front of a small crowd of fans at Lilac Hill was certainly a different experience from what the team will face at a sold-out main stadium the following week.

Stokes was excellent in the contest against the Indian team in the home summer, only to strain himself to breaking point. He missed the final Test with a torn shoulder.

The captain has not completed a full part in any of the team's past four tours because of different fitness issues and the team's chances of regaining the Ashes are vastly diminished if he misses any of the five matches in Australia.

He has been practicing at maximum speed for two months and appeared in good condition on the match day, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his wickets were presented.

Jacks is unlikely to play in the opening match – the team 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 nearly run-a-ball pace.

Prior to the concern over Wood, the five fast bowlers in the team lineup for this game may not have been the bowling unit for the first Test.

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

Although the captain took the wickets, Archer caught the eye. He was energetic with the fresh ball and once more after lunch, when he discomforted Will Jacks.

In the absence of Bashir and with Mark Wood leaving the field, Root was required to deliver fourteen overs of his off-spin. It was average performance, costing 117 at an run rate of more than eight.

Root at least claimed a scalp in the final session when Fisher unexpectedly hit a full delivery to the fielder before Jofra Archer bounced out Matthew Potts for fifty-three with the last delivery of the day.