Ben Stokes Takes 6 Wickets in England Test Series Warm-up

Tour match, Perth venue (day one of three)

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

National team: yet to bat

Ben Stokes delivered six wickets in his return to play since July but the tourists faced an fitness worry regarding fast bowler Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up against the development squad in Perth.

Stokes, returning after approximately four months out with a shoulder problem, bowled 16 overs across three bowling spells for his six for fifty-two versus England Lions – all to catches taken on the on-side.

Pace bowler Wood, also making his comeback after 9 months away with a knee injury, delivered a pre-planned number of eight overs before departing the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring problem. He will have a scan on the following day.

The Wood situation removed the intensity out of the day, as the England Lions were bowled out for 382 on a slow track after an automatic toss at the venue.

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

In a potential indication towards their opening Test strategy, the tourists selected an all-pace attack – four specialists plus Stokes – and left spin bowler Bashir in the development squad.

Jacob Bethell didn't strengthen his claim for selection in the Test team, making only two, but Jacks boosted his credentials to be selected later in the tour by swiping eighty-four.

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

England's decision to play a solitary warm-up game against the Lions has been questioned by some ex-players but the captain responded by labeling the doubters "former players".

A relaxed opening day in front of a small crowd of fans at the ground was definitely a different experience from what the team will face at a packed Optus Stadium next week.

The captain was excellent in the contest against the Indian team in the home summer, 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 England's past four tours because of different fitness issues and the tourists' hopes of winning back the series are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five matches in the host country.

He has been practicing at full pace for two months and appeared in fine shape on Wednesday, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his dismissals were presented.

Jacks is not expected to feature in the opening match – England look to have revealed their hand with the eleven named here. Nevertheless, he may have moved himself in front of the struggling Jacob Bethell with his 84, which came at almost a run a ball.

Prior to the doubt over Mark Wood, the five seamers in the team lineup for this match may not have been the bowling unit for the first Test.

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

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

In the absence of Shoaib Bashir and with Wood leaving the field, Joe Root was asked to deliver 14 overs of his off-spin. It was mediocre fare, costing 117 runs at an run rate of more than eight.

Joe Root at least claimed a wicket in the final session when Matt Fisher somehow hit a full toss to the fielder before Jofra Archer bounced out Matthew Potts for fifty-three with the final ball of the day.