Ben Stokes Takes 6 Wickets in England Ashes Warm-up

Practice game, Perth venue (day one of three)

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

National team: still to bat

Ben Stokes produced six wickets in his first action following July but England faced an injury concern involving fast bowler Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up against England Lions in Perth.

Stokes, returning after nearly four months out with a shoulder injury, bowled sixteen overs across three bowling spells for his 6-52 against England Lions – all to catches taken on the on-side.

Fast bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after nine months out with a knee problem, delivered a pre-planned number of eight overs before departing the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring issue. He will receive scanning on Friday.

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

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

In a possible hint towards their opening Test strategy, the visiting team fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialist bowlers plus Stokes – and omitted off-spinner Bashir in the development squad.

Jacob Bethell didn't strengthen his claim for inclusion in the Test team, making only two, but Will Jacks boosted his claim to be called upon later in the tour by scoring 84.

McKinney, Jordan Cox, teenage Rew and Matthew Potts also made fifties.

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

A low-pressure first day in front of a smattering of fans at the ground was definitely a different experience from what England will encounter at a packed main stadium the following week.

Stokes was excellent in the contest against India in the home summer, only to strain himself to injury. He was absent from the final Test with a torn shoulder.

The captain has not completed a complete participation in any of the team's past four tours because of different fitness issues and the tourists' hopes of winning back the series are vastly diminished if he misses any of the five matches in the host country.

He has been bowling at full pace for two months and looked in good condition on the match day, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his wickets were presented.

Jacks is not expected to feature in the first Test – England look to have revealed their intentions with the XI 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 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 Josh Tongue. Tongue had opening batsman Ben McKinney edging to the keeper just after the break.

Though Stokes took the wickets, Archer impressed observers. He was energetic with the new ball and once more after lunch, when he caused problems for Jacks.

In the omission of Bashir and with Mark Wood departing, Joe Root was asked to deliver fourteen overs of his spin bowling. It was average performance, costing 117 at an run rate of more than eight.

Root at least claimed a scalp in the closing stages when Matt Fisher somehow hit a full delivery to mid-on before Jofra Archer dismissed with a bouncer Matthew Potts for fifty-three with the last delivery of the day.