Stokes Secures 6 Scalps in English Ashes Warm-up

Tour match, Perth venue (day one of 3)

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

England XI: yet to bat

Ben Stokes produced six wickets in his return to play after July but England encountered an injury concern regarding Mark Wood on the first day of their Test preparation against England Lions in Perth.

The England captain, making his comeback after nearly four months away with a shoulder injury, bowled sixteen overs across three spells for his six for fifty-two versus the Lions – each to catches on the leg side.

Fast bowler Wood, himself returning after 9 months away with a knee problem, bowled a scheduled amount of eight overs before leaving the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring issue. He will undergo scanning on the following day.

The Wood situation sucked the intensity out of the day, as the England Lions were dismissed for 382 on a slow track after an uncontested toss at Lilac Hill.

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

In a possible hint towards their first-Test plans, the visiting team selected an fast bowling lineup – four specialist bowlers plus the captain – and left off-spinner Bashir in the development squad.

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

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

The team's plan to play a solitary warm-up game against the Lions has been criticized by some former players but Stokes hit back by labeling the critics "has-beens".

A low-pressure opening day in front of a smattering of spectators at Lilac Hill was certainly a different experience from what England will face at a sold-out main stadium the following week.

Stokes was superb in the contest against the Indian team in the domestic season, only to push himself to injury. He missed the last match with a torn shoulder.

The skipper has not managed a complete participation in any of England's past four series because of various injuries and the team's hopes of regaining the series are significantly reduced if he is absent from any of the five Tests in Australia.

He has been practicing at full pace for two months and looked in good condition on Wednesday, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his wickets were gifted.

Jacks is unlikely to feature in the opening match – England look to have revealed their intentions with the XI named here. Nevertheless, he may have moved himself in front of the struggling Bethell with his 84, which came at almost a run a ball.

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

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

Although Stokes took the scalps, Archer caught the eye. He was lively with the new ball and again after the interval, when he discomforted Jacks.

In the omission of Shoaib Bashir and with Wood departing, Joe Root was required to deliver 14 overs of his spin bowling. It was mediocre fare, conceding 117 runs at an run rate of over eight.

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