Ben Stokes Takes Six Scalps in English Ashes Warm-up

Practice game, Lilac Hill (day one of 3)

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

National team: still to bat

The England captain produced 6 scalps in his initial appearance since July but England faced an injury concern regarding Mark Wood on the first day of their Test preparation against the development squad in Perth.

Stokes, returning after nearly four months away with a shoulder injury, delivered sixteen overs across three spells for his six for fifty-two versus England Lions – each to catches taken on the leg side.

Pace bowler Mark Wood, also making his comeback after nine months away with a knee injury, delivered a pre-planned number of 8 overs before exiting the field in the post-lunch 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 three hundred eighty-two on a sluggish pitch after an uncontested toss at the venue.

England aimed to field first to accumulate bowling time before the first Ashes Test at Optus Stadium, starting on 21 November.

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

Bethell didn't strengthen his case for selection in the Test team, making just two runs, but Will Jacks enhanced his claim to be selected during the series by hitting eighty-four.

Ben McKinney, Cox, 17-year-old Rew and Matthew Potts also scored fifties.

The team's plan to play a single warm-up game against the development squad has been criticized by some ex-players but the captain responded by calling the critics "has-beens".

A relaxed opening day in front of a smattering of fans at the ground was certainly a world away from what the team will encounter at a packed Optus Stadium next week.

The captain was excellent in the series 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 captain has not managed a complete participation in any of the team's previous four tours because of various injuries and the tourists' hopes 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 two months and appeared in good condition on the match day, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his dismissals were presented.

Jacks is not expected to feature in the first Test – England look to have shown their hand with the eleven named here. Nevertheless, he may have nudged himself in front of the out-of-sorts Bethell with his eighty-four, 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 attack for the first Test.

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

Though the captain took the wickets, Archer impressed observers. He was lively with the fresh ball and once more after the interval, when he caused problems for Will Jacks.

In the absence of Bashir and with Mark Wood leaving the field, Root was required to bowl fourteen overs of his off-spin. It was mediocre fare, costing 117 at an economy of over eight.

Joe Root at least took a wicket in the final session when Matt Fisher somehow struck a full toss to mid-on before Archer dismissed with a bouncer Matthew Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.