Ben Stokes Claims Six Scalps in English Ashes Preparation Match

Practice game, Perth venue (day one of three)

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

England XI: yet to bat

Ben Stokes delivered 6 scalps in his initial appearance after July but England encountered an injury concern about fast bowler Wood on the opening day of their Test preparation versus the development squad in Western Australia.

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

Pace bowler Wood, also making his comeback after 9 months away with a knee injury, bowled a pre-planned number of 8 overs before departing the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring problem. He will receive scanning on Friday.

The Wood situation sucked the energy out of the day, as the England Lions were bowled out for three hundred eighty-two on a slow track after an uncontested toss at Lilac Hill.

The tourists aimed to field first to build bowling fitness before the first Ashes Test at Optus Stadium, starting on 21 November.

In a possible hint towards their opening Test strategy, the tourists selected an all-pace attack – four specialists plus the captain – and omitted off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in the development squad.

Bethell didn't strengthen his claim for selection in the Test team, making just two runs, but Jacks boosted his claim to be selected later in the tour by swiping 84.

McKinney, Cox, 17-year-old Rew and Matthew Potts also scored half-centuries.

The team's decision to play a single practice match against the Lions has been criticized by some former players but the captain responded by calling the critics "has-beens".

A relaxed opening day in front of a small crowd of spectators at the ground was definitely a different experience from what the team will encounter at a sold-out Optus Stadium the following week.

The captain was excellent in the contest against the Indian team in the domestic season, only to strain himself to injury. He missed the last match with a shoulder tear.

The skipper has not managed a complete participation in any of the team's previous four series because of various injuries and the team's hopes of winning back the series are significantly reduced if he is absent from any of the five Tests in the host country.

He has been bowling at maximum speed for two months and appeared in good condition on Wednesday, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his wickets were presented.

Jacks is not expected to play in the first Test – the team look to have revealed their hand with the XI named here. Still, he may have moved himself ahead of the struggling Jacob Bethell with his 84, which came at almost a run a ball.

Even before the doubt over Mark Wood, the five fast bowlers in the team lineup for this match may not have been the bowling unit for the initial match.

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

Although Stokes took the scalps, Archer impressed observers. He was lively with the fresh ball and again after lunch, when he caused problems for Will Jacks.

In the absence of Shoaib Bashir and with Wood departing, Joe Root was required to bowl 14 overs of his off-spin. It was mediocre fare, conceding 117 runs at an economy of more than eight.

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