Ben Stokes Claims Six Wickets in English Ashes Warm-up

Practice match, Perth venue (day one of 3)

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

England XI: still to bat

The England captain delivered 6 scalps in his return to play following July but the tourists encountered an injury concern regarding fast bowler Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up against the development squad in Perth.

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

Fast bowler Wood, himself returning after nine months out with a knee problem, bowled a pre-planned number of eight overs before leaving the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring problem. He will undergo scanning on Friday.

Wood's injury sucked the intensity out of the day, as the England Lions were dismissed for 382 on a sluggish pitch after an uncontested toss at Lilac Hill.

The tourists wanted to field first to get overs in their legs before the initial Test match at Optus Stadium, starting on November 21st.

In a potential indication towards their opening Test strategy, the visiting team fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialists plus the captain – and left off-spinner Bashir in the development squad.

Bethell didn't strengthen his claim for inclusion in the Test team, making only two, but Will Jacks enhanced his claim to be called upon during the series by hitting 84.

McKinney, Cox, teenage Rew and Potts also made half-centuries.

England's decision to play a single practice match against the Lions has been questioned by some former players but the captain responded by calling the doubters "has-beens".

A relaxed opening day in front of a smattering of spectators at the ground was definitely a different experience from what England will encounter at a packed Optus Stadium the following week.

The captain was superb in the contest against India in the home summer, only to push himself to injury. He was absent from the last match with a torn shoulder.

The captain has not managed a complete participation in any of England's past four series because of different fitness issues and the tourists' chances of winning back the series are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five Tests in Australia.

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

Will Jacks is unlikely to play in the first Test – England look to have revealed their hand with the eleven named here. Still, he may have moved himself ahead of the struggling Bethell with his 84, which came at almost a run a ball.

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

Brydon Carse was absent from the opening day because of illness, with his place going to Tongue. Tongue had Lions opener Ben McKinney caught behind just after lunch.

Though the captain took the scalps, Archer impressed observers. He was lively with the fresh ball and once more after lunch, when he caused problems for Will Jacks.

In the omission of Bashir and with Wood leaving the field, Root was asked to deliver 14 overs of his spin bowling. It was mediocre fare, costing 117 at an economy of more than eight.

Root at least claimed a wicket in the closing stages when Matt Fisher unexpectedly struck a full delivery to mid-on before Archer bounced out Potts for fifty-three with the final ball of the day.