Ben Stokes Takes Six Wickets in England Test Series Preparation Match

Tour match, Perth venue (day one of 3)

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

National team: yet to bat

Ben Stokes delivered six wickets in his first action after July but England faced an fitness worry about Mark Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up versus the development squad in Perth.

Stokes, making his comeback after approximately four months out with a shoulder problem, bowled 16 overs across three bowling spells for his 6-52 versus England Lions – all to catches taken on the on-side.

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

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

England wanted to field first to build bowling fitness before the initial Test match at the main venue, beginning on 21 November.

In a possible hint towards their opening Test strategy, the tourists fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialist bowlers plus Stokes – and left off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in the development squad.

Bethell didn't strengthen his case for inclusion in the Test side, making only two, but Jacks boosted his credentials to be called upon during the series by swiping 84.

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

The team's decision to play a solitary practice match against the Lions has been criticized by some former players but Stokes responded by calling the critics "past players".

A relaxed opening day in front of a smattering of spectators at the ground was certainly a world away from what England will face at a packed Optus Stadium the following week.

Stokes was superb in the series against India in the home summer, only to strain himself to injury. He missed the final Test with a shoulder tear.

The captain has not completed a full part in any of the team's previous four tours because of various injuries and the team's chances of regaining the series are vastly diminished if he misses any of the five Tests in the host country.

He has been practicing at full pace 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 dismissals were presented.

Will Jacks is unlikely to play in the first Test – the team look to have revealed their hand with the XI selected here. Nevertheless, he may have moved himself in front of the out-of-sorts Jacob Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at almost a run a ball.

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

Carse was absent from the first day because of sickness, with his position going to Josh Tongue. Tongue had Lions opener McKinney caught behind just after the break.

Although the captain took the wickets, Jofra Archer caught the eye. He was energetic with the fresh ball and once more after the interval, when he discomforted Jacks.

In the omission of Shoaib Bashir and with Wood leaving the field, Root was asked to deliver fourteen overs of his off-spin. It was average performance, conceding 117 runs at an run rate of over eight.

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