Stokes Claims 6 Wickets in England Ashes Warm-up

Practice match, Perth venue (first day of three)

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

National team: awaiting batting

The England captain produced 6 scalps in his return to play since July but the tourists encountered an injury concern about fast bowler Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up against the development squad in Western Australia.

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

Pace bowler Wood, himself returning after nine months out with a knee problem, bowled a scheduled amount of 8 overs before departing the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring problem. He will undergo scanning on the following day.

Wood's injury sucked the intensity out of the day, as the England Lions were dismissed for 382 on a sluggish pitch after an automatic toss at the venue.

England aimed to bowl first to build bowling fitness before the first Ashes Test at the main venue, starting on 21 November.

In a possible hint towards their first-Test plans, the tourists selected an fast bowling lineup – four specialists plus the captain – and left off-spinner Bashir in the Lions.

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

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

England's decision to play a solitary warm-up game against the Lions has been questioned by some former players but the captain responded by labeling the critics "former players".

A relaxed first day in front of a smattering of spectators at Lilac Hill was certainly a different experience from what the team will face at a sold-out Optus Stadium next week.

The captain was superb in the contest against India in the home summer, only to push himself to injury. He was absent from the last match with a torn shoulder.

The captain has not completed a complete participation in any of England's previous four tours because of various injuries and the team's chances of regaining the series are vastly diminished if he misses any of the five Tests in the host country.

He has been practicing at maximum speed for 60 days and appeared in fine shape on the match day, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his dismissals were gifted.

Jacks is unlikely to feature in the opening match – the team look to have shown their intentions with the eleven named here. Nevertheless, he may have moved himself in front of the out-of-sorts Jacob Bethell with his 84, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

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

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

Though the captain took the scalps, Jofra Archer caught the eye. He was lively with the new ball and again after lunch, when he caused problems for Jacks.

In the absence of Bashir and with Wood leaving the field, Joe Root was asked to bowl fourteen overs of his off-spin. It was mediocre fare, 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 the fielder before Jofra Archer bounced out Matthew Potts for fifty-three with the last delivery of the day.