Stokes Takes 6 Scalps in England Ashes Warm-up

Tour game, Perth venue (first day of 3)

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

National team: yet to bat

The England captain produced six wickets in his first action following July but the tourists faced an fitness worry involving fast bowler Wood on the opening day of their Test preparation versus England Lions in Perth.

The England captain, making his comeback after nearly four months out with a shoulder problem, bowled 16 overs across three bowling spells for his six for fifty-two versus England Lions – each to catches on the on-side.

Pace bowler Mark Wood, also making his comeback after 9 months out with a knee problem, delivered a scheduled amount of 8 overs before leaving the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring problem. He will undergo scanning on the following day.

The Wood situation drained the intensity out of the day, as the England Lions were bowled out for three hundred eighty-two on a slow, low surface after an automatic toss at Lilac Hill.

The tourists aimed to bowl first to accumulate bowling time before the initial Test match at Optus Stadium, beginning on 21 November.

In a possible hint towards their opening Test strategy, the visiting team fielded an all-pace attack – four specialist bowlers plus Stokes – and omitted spin bowler Bashir in the Lions.

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

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

The team's plan to play a solitary warm-up game against the Lions has been questioned by some ex-players but Stokes hit back by labeling the critics "past players".

A low-pressure first day in front of a smattering of fans at Lilac Hill was certainly a different experience from what England will encounter at a sold-out main stadium next week.

Stokes was excellent in the contest against the Indian team 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 managed a full part in any of England's past four series because of various injuries and the team's chances of winning back the Ashes are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five matches in Australia.

He has been bowling at full pace for 60 days and looked in good condition on the match day, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his wickets were gifted.

Will Jacks is unlikely to play in the opening match – the team look to have shown their intentions with the eleven named here. Still, he may have nudged himself in front of the out-of-sorts Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at almost a run a ball.

Even before the concern over Wood, the five fast bowlers in the team lineup for this match may not have been the attack for the initial match.

Brydon Carse missed the first day because of sickness, with his place going to Tongue. Josh Tongue had opening batsman Ben McKinney edging to the keeper just after lunch.

Though the captain took the wickets, Archer caught the eye. He was lively with the fresh ball and once more after the interval, when he discomforted Jacks.

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

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