Stokes Secures 6 Scalps in English Test Series Warm-up

Tour game, Perth venue (first day of 3)

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

England XI: awaiting batting

Ben Stokes achieved 6 scalps in his initial appearance since July but the tourists faced an fitness worry involving fast bowler Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up versus England Lions in Perth.

Stokes, returning after approximately four months out with a shoulder problem, bowled 16 overs across three bowling spells for his 6-52 versus England Lions – each to catches on the on-side.

Fast bowler Wood, himself returning after 9 months out with a knee injury, bowled a pre-planned number of eight overs before leaving the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring problem. He will undergo scanning on Friday.

The Wood situation sucked the intensity out of the day, as the England Lions were dismissed for 382 on a slow, low surface after an automatic toss at the venue.

The tourists wanted to field first to build bowling fitness before the first Ashes Test at the main venue, starting on November 21st.

In a potential indication towards their first-Test plans, the tourists selected an all-pace attack – four specialists plus the captain – and left off-spinner Bashir in the development squad.

Bethell failed to press his claim for inclusion in the Test team, making just two runs, but Jacks boosted his credentials to be called upon later in the tour by hitting 84.

McKinney, Cox, 17-year-old Rew and Potts also made half-centuries.

England's decision to play a solitary warm-up game against the development squad has been questioned by some former players but the captain 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 world away from what the team will face at a packed Optus Stadium the following week.

The captain was excellent in the series against the Indian team in the domestic season, only to strain himself to injury. He was absent from the last match with a torn shoulder.

The skipper has not managed a full part in any of England's past four tours because of various injuries and the team's chances of winning back the series are vastly diminished if he misses any of the five matches in Australia.

He has been practicing at full pace for 60 days and looked in good condition on Wednesday, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his dismissals were gifted.

Will Jacks is not expected to play in the first Test – England look to have shown their intentions with the eleven selected here. Nevertheless, he may have nudged himself in front of the out-of-sorts Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

Even before the concern over Wood, the five seamers in the team lineup for this match may not have been the attack for the first Test.

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

Although Stokes took the scalps, Jofra Archer impressed observers. He was energetic with the fresh ball and again after the interval, when he discomforted Will 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, conceding 117 at an economy of more than eight.

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