Stokes Claims 6 Wickets in England Ashes Warm-up

Tour match, Perth venue (day one of 3)

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

National team: awaiting batting

Ben Stokes delivered six wickets in his first action following July but England faced an fitness worry about Mark Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up versus the development squad in Perth.

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

Fast bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after nine months away with a knee problem, delivered a scheduled amount of eight overs before departing the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring issue. He will receive scanning on the following day.

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

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

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

Jacob Bethell didn't strengthen his claim for inclusion in the Test side, making just two runs, but Will Jacks enhanced his claim to be selected during the series by scoring eighty-four.

McKinney, Jordan Cox, teenage Thomas Rew and Matthew Potts also made fifties.

England's plan 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 "past players".

A low-pressure first day in front of a small crowd of spectators at Lilac Hill was certainly a world away from what England will face at a packed Optus Stadium next week.

Stokes was superb in the contest against the Indian team in the home summer, only to strain himself to breaking point. He was absent from the last match with a torn shoulder.

The skipper has not managed a complete participation in any of the team's past four series because of different fitness issues and the team's chances of regaining the Ashes are significantly reduced if he is absent from any of the five Tests in the host country.

He has been practicing at maximum speed for two months and appeared in fine shape 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 play 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.

Even before the doubt over Wood, the five seamers in the England XI for this game may not have been the attack for the first Test.

Brydon Carse was absent from the first day because of illness, with his position going to Josh Tongue. Tongue had opening batsman Ben McKinney caught behind just after lunch.

Though Stokes took the scalps, Jofra Archer impressed observers. He was energetic with the fresh ball and again after the interval, when he caused problems for Will Jacks.

In the omission of Bashir and with Wood departing, Root was required to deliver 14 overs of his spin bowling. It was average performance, conceding 117 at an economy of more than eight.

Joe Root at least took a wicket in the closing stages when Matt Fisher unexpectedly hit a full delivery to mid-on before Archer bounced out Matthew Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.