Stokes Takes 6 Scalps in England Test Series Warm-up

Tour match, Lilac Hill (first day of three)

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

National team: awaiting batting

The England captain produced six wickets in his initial appearance since July but England encountered an injury concern regarding fast bowler Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up versus the development squad in Western Australia.

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

Pace bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after nine months away with a knee injury, bowled a pre-planned number of eight overs before departing the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring issue. He will undergo scanning on Friday.

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

The tourists aimed to bowl first to get overs in their legs before the initial Test match at Optus Stadium, beginning on 21 November.

In a potential indication towards their opening Test strategy, the visiting team fielded an all-pace attack – four specialists plus the captain – and left spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in the development squad.

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

Ben McKinney, Jordan Cox, 17-year-old Thomas Rew and Potts also scored half-centuries.

The team's decision to play a solitary warm-up game against the development squad has been questioned by some ex-players but Stokes hit back by calling the doubters "has-beens".

A relaxed first 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 next week.

Stokes was superb in the series against the Indian team in the domestic season, only to push himself to injury. He missed the final Test with a torn shoulder.

The skipper has not completed a full part in any of England's previous four series because of various injuries and the tourists' chances of regaining the Ashes are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five Tests in the host country.

He has been bowling 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 wickets were gifted.

Jacks is not expected to feature in the opening match – England look to have revealed their hand with the XI named here. Nevertheless, he may have nudged himself ahead of the struggling Jacob Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

Prior to the doubt over Wood, the five fast bowlers in the team lineup for this game may not have been the attack for the first Test.

Carse was absent from the first day because of sickness, with his position going to 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 new ball and once more after the interval, when he caused problems for Will Jacks.

In the absence of Bashir and with Mark Wood departing, Joe Root was required to deliver fourteen overs of his off-spin. It was average performance, conceding 117 at an run rate of more than eight.

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