Ben Stokes Secures Six Scalps in English Ashes Warm-up

Tour match, Perth venue (day one of three)

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

England XI: awaiting batting

The England captain delivered six wickets in his return to play following July but England encountered an injury concern involving Mark Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up against England Lions in Western Australia.

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

Pace bowler Wood, himself returning after nine months out with a knee injury, delivered a pre-planned number of eight overs before exiting the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring issue. He will have a scan on Friday.

The Wood situation drained the intensity out of the day, as the England Lions were bowled out for 382 on a sluggish pitch after an uncontested toss at the venue.

The tourists aimed to bowl first to get overs in their legs before the first Ashes Test at the main venue, starting on November 21st.

In a potential indication towards their opening Test strategy, the tourists fielded an all-pace attack – four specialists plus Stokes – and omitted off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in the development squad.

Jacob Bethell didn't strengthen his case for inclusion in the Test team, making just two runs, but Will Jacks boosted his credentials to be selected during the series by scoring 84.

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

England's decision to play a single warm-up game against the development squad has been questioned by some former players but Stokes hit back by labeling the critics "has-beens".

A low-pressure opening day in front of a smattering of spectators at the ground was certainly a different experience from what the team will face at a sold-out Optus Stadium the following week.

Stokes was superb 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 past four series because of various injuries and the tourists' hopes of winning back the series are vastly diminished if he is absent from any of the five Tests in the host country.

He has been bowling at full pace for 60 days and looked 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 unlikely to play in the first Test – England look to have revealed their hand with the XI selected here. Nevertheless, 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 bowling unit for the first Test.

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

Though Stokes took the scalps, 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 Mark Wood departing, Joe Root was required to bowl fourteen overs of his off-spin. It was mediocre fare, conceding 117 runs at an run rate of more than eight.

Root at least claimed a wicket in the final session when Fisher somehow struck a full toss to the fielder before Archer dismissed with a bouncer Matthew Potts for fifty-three with the final ball of the day.