Stokes Takes 6 Scalps in English Ashes Warm-up

Practice match, Lilac Hill (day one of 3)

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

National team: awaiting batting

Ben Stokes achieved 6 scalps in his first action after July but England faced an fitness worry regarding Mark Wood on the first day of their Test preparation against England Lions in Perth.

Stokes, making his comeback after nearly four months out with a shoulder problem, bowled sixteen overs across three bowling spells for his 6-52 versus the Lions – each to catches on the leg side.

Fast bowler Mark Wood, also making his comeback after 9 months out with a knee injury, delivered a pre-planned number of eight overs before leaving the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring issue. He will receive scanning on Friday.

Wood's injury drained the intensity out of the day, as the England Lions were bowled out for 382 on a sluggish pitch after an automatic toss at Lilac Hill.

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

In a potential indication towards their first-Test plans, the visiting team fielded an all-pace attack – four specialist bowlers plus the captain – and omitted off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in the development squad.

Jacob Bethell failed to press his case for inclusion in the Test team, making only two, but Will Jacks boosted his claim to be called upon later in the tour by hitting eighty-four.

Ben McKinney, Jordan Cox, 17-year-old Rew and Potts also made fifties.

The team's decision to play a single practice match against the Lions has been criticized by some former players but the captain responded by labeling the critics "has-beens".

A low-pressure first day in front of a small crowd of fans at the ground was certainly a world away from what England will face at a packed main stadium next week.

Stokes was excellent in the series against India in the home summer, only to strain himself to breaking point. He was absent from the last match with a shoulder tear.

The captain has not managed a full part in any of the team's previous four tours because of different fitness issues and the tourists' hopes of regaining the series are significantly reduced if he is absent from any of the five Tests in the host country.

He has been bowling at maximum speed 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 dismissals were gifted.

Jacks is not expected to feature in the opening match – England look to have shown their intentions with the XI named here. Nevertheless, he may have nudged himself ahead of the struggling Bethell with his 84, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

Even before the concern over Mark Wood, the five fast bowlers in the team lineup for this game may not have been the attack for the first Test.

Brydon Carse was absent from the opening day because of illness, with his place going to Tongue. Tongue had opening batsman Ben McKinney edging to the keeper just after lunch.

Though the captain took the scalps, Jofra Archer impressed observers. He was energetic with the fresh ball and once more after the interval, when he discomforted Will Jacks.

In the absence of Shoaib Bashir and with Wood departing, Root was asked to bowl fourteen overs of his spin bowling. It was mediocre fare, conceding 117 runs at an run rate of more than eight.

Joe Root at least claimed a scalp in the final session when Matt Fisher somehow hit a full toss to mid-on before Jofra Archer bounced out Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.