Ben Stokes Takes 6 Wickets in England Test Series Warm-up

Tour match, Perth venue (day one of three)

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

National team: yet to bat

Ben Stokes produced six wickets in his return to play since July but England faced an injury concern involving fast bowler Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up against the development squad in Western Australia.

Stokes, returning after approximately four months away with a shoulder injury, delivered sixteen overs across three bowling spells for his six for fifty-two against the Lions – all to catches on the on-side.

Fast bowler Mark Wood, also making his comeback after nine months away with a knee injury, delivered a pre-planned number of 8 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 England Lions were dismissed for 382 on a sluggish pitch after an automatic toss at the venue.

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

In a possible hint towards their opening Test strategy, the tourists selected an fast bowling lineup – four specialists plus the captain – and left spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in the Lions.

Bethell didn't strengthen his claim for selection in the Test side, making only two, but Will Jacks enhanced his claim to be called upon during the series by hitting 84.

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

England's plan to play a solitary practice match against the Lions has been criticized by some former players but Stokes responded by labeling the doubters "has-beens".

A low-pressure first day in front of a small crowd of spectators at Lilac Hill was definitely a world away from what England will encounter at a packed main stadium next week.

Stokes was excellent in the contest against India in the domestic season, only to strain himself to breaking point. He missed the last match with a torn shoulder.

The skipper has not managed a complete participation in any of England's past four tours because of different fitness issues and the tourists' chances of winning back the Ashes are vastly diminished if he is absent from any of the five Tests in Australia.

He has been bowling at maximum speed for two months and looked in fine shape 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 hand with the eleven named here. Still, he may have nudged himself in front of the struggling 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 England XI for this match may not have been the bowling unit for the first Test.

Carse was absent from the opening day because of illness, with his place going to Tongue. Tongue had opening batsman Ben McKinney edging to the keeper just after the break.

Although Stokes took the scalps, Archer caught the eye. He was lively with the new ball and once more after lunch, when he caused problems for Jacks.

In the absence of Bashir and with Mark Wood leaving the field, Joe Root was asked to bowl 14 overs of his off-spin. It was mediocre fare, conceding 117 runs at an economy of over eight.

Joe Root at least claimed a wicket in the closing stages when Fisher unexpectedly hit a full toss to the fielder before Archer bounced out Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.