Ben Stokes Secures 6 Scalps in English Ashes Preparation Match

Practice game, Lilac Hill (first day of 3)

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

National team: still to bat

Ben Stokes delivered six wickets in his first action after July but England encountered an injury concern involving Mark Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up versus the development squad in Perth.

The England captain, returning after approximately four months away with a shoulder injury, bowled sixteen overs across three bowling spells for his 6-52 against the Lions – each to catches on the on-side.

Pace bowler Mark Wood, also making his comeback after 9 months away with a knee injury, bowled a scheduled amount of eight overs before departing the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring issue. He will receive scanning on Friday.

Wood's injury sucked the intensity out of the day, as the Lions were dismissed for 382 on a slow track after an automatic toss at the venue.

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

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

Bethell didn't strengthen his claim for inclusion in the Test team, making only two, but Will Jacks enhanced his credentials to be selected during the series by swiping 84.

McKinney, Cox, teenage Rew and Matthew Potts also made half-centuries.

The team's plan to play a single warm-up game against the development squad has been criticized by some former players but the captain responded by labeling the critics "former players".

A relaxed opening day in front of a smattering of spectators at Lilac Hill was definitely a world away from what the team will encounter at a sold-out main stadium the following week.

Stokes was excellent in the contest against India in the domestic season, only to push himself to injury. He was absent from the last match with a torn shoulder.

The skipper has not completed a full part in any of England's past four tours because of various injuries and the team's hopes of regaining the series are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five matches in the host country.

He has been bowling at maximum speed for 60 days and appeared in good condition on the match day, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his dismissals were presented.

Will Jacks is unlikely to feature in the opening match – England look to have shown their hand with the XI named 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 concern over Mark Wood, the five fast bowlers in the team lineup for this match may not have been the attack for the initial match.

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

Though the captain took the scalps, Archer caught the eye. He was energetic with the new ball and once more after the interval, when he discomforted Will Jacks.

In the omission of Bashir and with Wood leaving the field, Joe Root was asked to deliver 14 overs of his spin bowling. It was mediocre fare, conceding 117 at an run rate of more than eight.

Root at least claimed a wicket in the final session when Matt Fisher somehow hit a full toss to the fielder before Archer dismissed with a bouncer Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.