Ben Stokes Secures Six Scalps in English Ashes Preparation Match

Tour game, Perth venue (first day of 3)

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

England XI: awaiting batting

Ben Stokes delivered 6 scalps in his return to play since July but the tourists faced an injury concern about fast bowler Wood on the first day of their Test preparation versus England Lions in Perth.

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

Pace bowler Mark Wood, also making his comeback after nine months away with a knee injury, delivered a scheduled amount of eight overs before leaving the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring problem. He will receive scanning on the following day.

The Wood situation sucked the energy out of the day, as the Lions were dismissed for 382 on a sluggish pitch after an automatic toss at the venue.

England aimed to bowl first to build bowling fitness before the initial Test match at Optus Stadium, starting on 21 November.

In a possible hint towards their first-Test plans, the visiting team selected an all-pace attack – four specialist bowlers plus the captain – and omitted spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in the Lions.

Bethell didn't strengthen his case for selection in the Test team, making just two runs, but Will Jacks boosted his claim to be selected during the series by swiping eighty-four.

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

The team's decision to play a solitary practice match against the development squad has been criticized by some former players but Stokes responded by calling the doubters "has-beens".

A relaxed first day in front of a smattering of spectators at Lilac Hill was certainly a world away from what the team will encounter at a packed main stadium next week.

The captain was excellent in the series against India in the home summer, only to push himself to injury. He was absent from the final Test with a torn shoulder.

The skipper has not completed a full part in any of England's previous four tours because of various injuries and the tourists' hopes of regaining the Ashes are significantly reduced if he is absent from any of the five Tests in the host country.

He has been practicing at maximum speed for 60 days and looked 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 not expected to feature in the first Test – the team look to have revealed their intentions with the eleven named here. Nevertheless, he may have nudged himself in front of the out-of-sorts Jacob Bethell with his 84, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

Prior to the doubt over Mark Wood, the five fast bowlers in the team lineup for this game may not have been the attack for the initial match.

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

Although the captain took the wickets, Jofra Archer impressed observers. He was energetic with the fresh ball and once more after the interval, when he caused problems for Will Jacks.

In the absence of Bashir and with Mark Wood departing, Root was required to bowl fourteen overs of his off-spin. It was average performance, costing 117 runs at an economy of over eight.

Root at least took a wicket in the closing stages when Fisher unexpectedly struck a full delivery to the fielder before Archer dismissed with a bouncer Matthew Potts for 53 with the final ball of the day.