Ben Stokes Claims Six Scalps in England Test Series Warm-up

Tour match, Lilac Hill (first day of three)

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

National team: yet to bat

The England captain delivered 6 scalps in his initial appearance following July but England faced an fitness worry involving Mark Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up against the development squad in Perth.

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

Pace bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after 9 months out with a knee injury, delivered a scheduled amount of eight overs before leaving the field in the afternoon 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 England Lions were bowled out for three hundred eighty-two on a slow track after an uncontested toss at Lilac Hill.

The tourists aimed to bowl first to build bowling fitness before the initial Test match at the main venue, starting on 21 November.

In a potential indication towards their opening Test strategy, the tourists selected an all-pace attack – four specialist bowlers plus Stokes – and omitted off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in the development squad.

Jacob Bethell didn't strengthen his case for selection in the Test team, making only two, but Will Jacks boosted his credentials to be selected later in the tour by scoring 84.

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

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

A relaxed first day in front of a smattering of spectators at Lilac Hill was definitely a different experience from what England will encounter at a packed main stadium the following week.

Stokes was superb in the series against the Indian team in the domestic season, only to strain himself to injury. He missed the last match with a shoulder tear.

The skipper has not managed a full part in any of England's past four tours because of various injuries and the team's chances of regaining the Ashes are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five matches in Australia.

He has been practicing at maximum speed for two months and looked in good condition 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 – England look to have shown their intentions with the XI selected here. Nevertheless, he may have nudged himself ahead of the struggling Jacob Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at almost a run a ball.

Even before the concern over Wood, the five fast bowlers in the England XI for this match may not have been the attack for the first Test.

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

Although Stokes took the wickets, Jofra Archer impressed observers. He was lively with the new ball and once more after the interval, when he discomforted Will Jacks.

In the absence of Bashir and with Wood departing, Joe Root was required to bowl 14 overs of his off-spin. It was average performance, conceding 117 runs at an economy of over eight.

Joe Root at least claimed a scalp in the closing stages when Matt Fisher unexpectedly hit a full delivery to mid-on before Archer bounced out Potts for 53 with the final ball of the day.