Stokes Takes 6 Scalps in England Ashes Warm-up

Tour match, Perth venue (day one of 3)

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

England XI: yet to bat

The England captain achieved six wickets in his first action following July but the tourists encountered an injury concern about fast bowler Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up against England Lions in Western Australia.

The England captain, returning after approximately four months away with a shoulder problem, delivered 16 overs across three bowling spells for his 6-52 against the Lions – all to catches on the on-side.

Pace bowler Mark Wood, also making his comeback after 9 months away with a knee problem, bowled a pre-planned number of eight overs before exiting the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring issue. He will undergo scanning on Friday.

The Wood situation drained the intensity out of the day, as the England Lions were dismissed for 382 on a slow track after an automatic toss at the venue.

The tourists wanted to field first to accumulate bowling time before the initial Test match at Optus Stadium, starting on 21 November.

In a possible hint towards their first-Test plans, the visiting team selected an fast bowling lineup – four specialist bowlers plus the captain – and left off-spinner Bashir in the development squad.

Jacob Bethell failed to press his claim for inclusion in the Test side, making just two runs, but Will Jacks boosted his credentials to be selected during the series by swiping 84.

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

The team's decision to play a single warm-up game against the Lions has been questioned by some former players but Stokes responded by labeling the critics "former players".

A low-pressure first day in front of a small crowd of fans at Lilac Hill was definitely a world away from what the team will encounter at a sold-out Optus Stadium next week.

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

The captain has not managed a full part in any of the team's past four series because of different fitness issues and the tourists' chances of regaining the Ashes are vastly diminished if he misses any of the five Tests in Australia.

He has been bowling at full pace for two months and looked in fine shape 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 play in the opening match – the team look to have shown their intentions with the XI selected here. Nevertheless, he may have nudged himself ahead of the out-of-sorts Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at almost a run a ball.

Prior to the doubt over Mark Wood, the five seamers in the team lineup for this match may not have been the bowling unit for the first Test.

Carse was absent from the first day because of illness, with his place going to Josh Tongue. Josh Tongue had Lions opener McKinney edging to the keeper just after lunch.

Although Stokes took the scalps, Archer caught the eye. He was energetic with the new ball and again after the interval, when he caused problems for Jacks.

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

Root at least claimed a scalp in the final session when Matt Fisher unexpectedly struck a full delivery to the fielder before Archer bounced out Matthew Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.