Ben Stokes Takes Six Scalps in English Ashes Preparation Match

Tour game, Lilac Hill (day one of three)

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

England XI: awaiting batting

The England captain produced 6 scalps in his initial appearance since July but England encountered an fitness worry about Mark Wood on the first day of their Test preparation against the development squad in Perth.

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

Fast bowler Mark Wood, also making his comeback after nine months away with a knee injury, bowled a pre-planned number of 8 overs before leaving 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 energy out of the day, as the England Lions were dismissed for 382 on a sluggish pitch after an uncontested toss at the venue.

The tourists aimed to bowl first to accumulate bowling time before the first Ashes Test at the main venue, starting on 21 November.

In a potential indication towards their first-Test plans, the tourists fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialists plus Stokes – and omitted off-spinner Bashir in the development squad.

Jacob Bethell failed to press his claim for selection in the Test team, making only two, but Will Jacks boosted his credentials to be selected during the series by swiping eighty-four.

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

The team's decision to play a single warm-up game against the development squad has been criticized by some ex-players but the captain hit back by labeling the doubters "past players".

A low-pressure first day in front of a small crowd of spectators at Lilac Hill was certainly a different experience from what the team will encounter at a packed main stadium the following week.

The captain was superb in the contest against the Indian team in the domestic season, only to strain himself to breaking point. He was absent from the final Test with a torn shoulder.

The skipper has not completed a complete participation in any of the team's previous four tours because of different fitness issues and the tourists' chances of regaining the series are vastly diminished if he is absent from any of the five matches in the host country.

He has been practicing at maximum speed 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 presented.

Jacks is unlikely to feature in the opening match – England look to have shown their intentions with the eleven named here. Nevertheless, he may have moved himself in front of the out-of-sorts Jacob Bethell with his 84, which came at almost a run a ball.

Even before the doubt over Wood, the five fast bowlers in the England XI for this match may not have been the attack for the initial match.

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

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

In the absence of Shoaib Bashir and with Wood leaving the field, Root was asked to deliver 14 overs of his off-spin. It was mediocre fare, conceding 117 runs at an economy of over eight.

Joe Root at least took a scalp in the final session when Matt Fisher unexpectedly struck a full delivery to the fielder before Archer bounced out Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.