Stokes Secures Six Scalps in England Test Series Preparation Match

Tour match, Perth venue (day one of three)

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

National team: still to bat

Ben Stokes delivered 6 scalps in his return to play after July but the tourists faced an fitness worry regarding fast bowler Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up against the development squad in Western Australia.

The England captain, returning after nearly four months out with a shoulder injury, delivered 16 overs across three bowling spells for his six for fifty-two versus England Lions – all to catches taken on the leg side.

Fast bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after nine months away with a knee problem, bowled a pre-planned number of 8 overs before leaving the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring problem. He will undergo scanning on Friday.

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

The tourists wanted to field first to accumulate bowling time before the first Ashes Test at Optus Stadium, beginning on November 21st.

In a potential indication towards their opening Test strategy, the tourists selected an fast bowling lineup – four specialists plus the captain – and omitted spin bowler Bashir in the development squad.

Jacob Bethell failed to press his claim for selection in the Test team, making just two runs, but Jacks boosted his claim to be called upon during the series by swiping 84.

Ben McKinney, Cox, teenage Rew and Potts also scored fifties.

England's decision to play a solitary warm-up game against the development squad has been criticized by some former players but Stokes responded by labeling the doubters "former players".

A relaxed opening day in front of a smattering of fans at the ground was certainly a different experience from what England will encounter at a sold-out Optus Stadium the following week.

The captain was superb in the contest against the Indian team in the home summer, only to push himself to injury. He missed the final Test with a torn shoulder.

The skipper has not completed a full part in any of England's previous four series because of different fitness issues and the team's hopes of winning back the Ashes are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five matches in the host country.

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

Jacks is unlikely to play in the first Test – the team look to have revealed their intentions with the XI named here. Nevertheless, he may have nudged himself ahead of the out-of-sorts Bethell with his 84, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

Even before the concern over Mark Wood, the five fast bowlers in the England XI for this game may not have been the bowling unit for the initial match.

Brydon Carse was absent from the first day because of sickness, with his place going to Tongue. Tongue had Lions opener Ben McKinney caught behind just after the break.

Though the captain took the scalps, Jofra Archer caught the eye. He was energetic with the new ball and again after the interval, when he discomforted Will Jacks.

In the absence of Shoaib Bashir and with Wood leaving the field, Root was required to bowl 14 overs of his spin bowling. It was average performance, costing 117 at an run rate of over eight.

Joe Root at least took a wicket in the final session when Matt Fisher somehow hit a full toss to mid-on before Jofra Archer dismissed with a bouncer Potts for fifty-three with the final ball of the day.