Stokes Claims 6 Wickets in England Ashes Warm-up

Practice match, Lilac Hill (first day of three)

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

National team: yet to bat

The England captain delivered six wickets in his first action since July but England faced an injury concern involving Mark Wood on the first day of their Test preparation against the development squad in Western Australia.

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

Fast bowler Wood, also making his comeback after nine months away with a knee problem, delivered a scheduled amount of eight overs before exiting the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring problem. He will receive scanning on Friday.

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

The tourists aimed to bowl first to get overs in their legs before the first Ashes Test at the main venue, starting on November 21st.

In a potential indication towards their first-Test plans, the tourists selected an all-pace attack – four specialists plus the captain – and omitted spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in the development squad.

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

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

The team's decision to play a single warm-up game against the Lions has been questioned by some ex-players but the captain hit back by calling the critics "former players".

A low-pressure opening day in front of a smattering of spectators at Lilac Hill was certainly a world away from what the team will face at a packed Optus Stadium the following week.

The captain was superb in the series against India in the domestic season, only to strain himself to injury. He missed the last match with a torn shoulder.

The skipper has not completed a full part in any of the team's previous four tours because of various injuries and the tourists' chances of winning back the Ashes are vastly diminished if he misses any of the five matches in the host country.

He has been practicing at maximum speed for 60 days and looked in good condition on the match day, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his dismissals were gifted.

Will Jacks is not expected to feature in the first Test – England look to have revealed their intentions with the eleven named here. Nevertheless, 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 concern over Wood, the five fast bowlers in the England XI for this game may not have been the attack for the initial match.

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

Although Stokes took the scalps, Archer caught the eye. He was lively with the fresh ball and once more after lunch, when he discomforted Will Jacks.

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

Root at least took a wicket in the final session when Fisher somehow struck a full toss to mid-on before Archer bounced out Potts for fifty-three with the final ball of the day.