Ben Stokes Takes 6 Scalps in English Test Series Preparation Match

Practice match, Perth venue (day one of 3)

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

National team: yet to bat

The England captain delivered 6 scalps in his return to play following July but the tourists faced an injury concern involving Mark Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up against England Lions in Perth.

The England captain, returning after nearly four months away with a shoulder problem, delivered sixteen overs across three bowling spells for his six for fifty-two versus England Lions – each to catches taken on the on-side.

Pace bowler Wood, also making his comeback after nine months out with a knee injury, delivered a scheduled amount of eight overs before exiting the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring issue. He will have a scan on Friday.

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

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

In a potential indication towards their first-Test plans, the visiting team fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialists plus the captain – and omitted spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in the development squad.

Jacob Bethell didn't strengthen his case for selection in the Test team, making only two, but Jacks enhanced his credentials to be selected during the series by hitting 84.

McKinney, Cox, 17-year-old Rew and Potts also scored fifties.

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

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

Stokes was excellent in the contest against the Indian team in the home summer, only to push himself to breaking point. He was absent from the final Test with a shoulder tear.

The captain has not completed a complete participation in any of England's past four tours because of different fitness issues and the tourists' hopes of winning back the Ashes are significantly reduced if he is absent from any of the five Tests in the host country.

He has been practicing at full pace for 60 days and looked in fine shape on Wednesday, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his wickets were gifted.

Will Jacks is unlikely to play in the opening match – the team look to have revealed their intentions with the eleven selected 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 concern over Wood, the five seamers in the England XI for this match may not have been the attack for the first Test.

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

Although the captain took the scalps, Jofra Archer caught the eye. He was lively with the fresh ball and again after lunch, when he caused problems for Will Jacks.

In the omission of Shoaib Bashir and with Wood leaving the field, Joe Root was required to bowl fourteen overs of his off-spin. It was average performance, costing 117 at an run rate of more than eight.

Root at least took a wicket in the final session when Fisher somehow hit a full toss to the fielder before Archer dismissed with a bouncer Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.