Ben Stokes Claims 6 Scalps in England Ashes Warm-up

Practice match, Perth venue (day one of 3)

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

National team: awaiting batting

Ben Stokes produced 6 scalps in his first action since July but England faced an fitness worry about Mark Wood on the opening day of their Test preparation versus England Lions in Western Australia.

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

Fast bowler Wood, himself returning after nine months out with a knee problem, bowled a pre-planned number of eight overs before exiting the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring problem. He will have a scan on Friday.

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

England aimed to field first to build bowling fitness before the initial Test match at the main venue, starting on November 21st.

In a potential indication towards their first-Test plans, the visiting team fielded an all-pace attack – four specialists plus Stokes – and omitted spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in the development squad.

Bethell didn't strengthen his case for inclusion in the Test team, making just two runs, but Will Jacks boosted his claim to be selected later in the tour by hitting eighty-four.

Ben McKinney, Jordan Cox, teenage Rew and Matthew Potts also made fifties.

The team's plan to play a single practice match against the development squad has been criticized by some ex-players but Stokes responded by labeling the critics "past players".

A relaxed first day in front of a small crowd of spectators at the ground was certainly a different experience from what England will face at a packed Optus Stadium next 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 last match with a shoulder tear.

The skipper has not completed a complete participation in any of the team's past four tours because of various injuries and the tourists' chances of winning back 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 looked in good condition on Wednesday, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his dismissals were gifted.

Will Jacks is not expected to play in the opening match – the team look to have revealed their intentions with the XI selected here. Still, he may have moved himself in front of the out-of-sorts Jacob Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

Even before the concern over Mark Wood, the five seamers in the England XI for this game may not have been the bowling unit for the first Test.

Carse missed the first day because of sickness, with his place going to Josh Tongue. Josh Tongue had opening batsman Ben McKinney caught behind just after the break.

Though Stokes took the scalps, Archer impressed observers. He was lively with the fresh ball and once more after the interval, when he discomforted Will Jacks.

In the absence of Shoaib Bashir and with Wood leaving the field, Joe Root was asked to deliver fourteen overs of his spin bowling. It was average performance, conceding 117 runs at an run rate of over eight.

Root at least claimed a wicket in the closing stages when Fisher unexpectedly struck a full toss to mid-on before Archer bounced out Matthew Potts for fifty-three with the final ball of the day.