Ben Stokes Takes 6 Wickets in English Test Series Preparation Match

Practice game, Perth venue (day one of three)

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

National team: awaiting batting

Ben Stokes produced six wickets in his first action following July but the tourists faced an injury concern involving Mark Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up versus the development squad in Perth.

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

Fast bowler Wood, himself returning after nine months away with a knee problem, bowled a scheduled amount of 8 overs before departing the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring problem. He will have a scan on the following day.

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

England wanted to bowl first to get overs in their legs before the first Ashes Test at Optus Stadium, starting on November 21st.

In a potential indication towards their first-Test plans, the visiting team selected an fast bowling lineup – four specialists plus Stokes – and omitted spin bowler Bashir in the development squad.

Jacob Bethell didn't strengthen his claim for selection in the Test team, making only two, but Jacks boosted his claim to be selected later in the tour by hitting 84.

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

England's decision to play a single practice match against the development squad has been criticized by some former players but Stokes hit back by calling the critics "past players".

A relaxed opening day in front of a small crowd of spectators at Lilac Hill was certainly a different experience from what England will face at a packed Optus Stadium next week.

Stokes was excellent in the series against India in the domestic season, only to push himself to breaking point. He was absent from the last match with a shoulder tear.

The captain has not completed a complete participation in any of the team's previous four series because of various injuries and the tourists' chances of winning back the series are vastly diminished if he misses any of the five Tests in Australia.

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

Will Jacks is not expected to feature in the first Test – England look to have shown their hand with the eleven selected here. Nevertheless, he may have nudged himself ahead of the struggling Bethell with his 84, which came at almost a run a ball.

Even before the concern over Wood, the five seamers in the England XI for this game may not have been the attack for the initial match.

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

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

In the absence of Bashir and with Wood departing, Root was asked to bowl fourteen overs of his off-spin. It was mediocre fare, conceding 117 at an run rate of over eight.

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