Stokes Takes Six Scalps in English Ashes Warm-up

Tour game, Lilac Hill (day one of three)

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

National team: still to bat

Ben Stokes achieved six wickets in his initial appearance since July but the tourists faced an injury concern about fast bowler Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up against the development squad in Western Australia.

The England captain, returning after nearly four months out with a shoulder problem, delivered sixteen overs across three spells for his 6-52 against the Lions – each to catches on the leg side.

Pace bowler Wood, himself returning after nine months away with a knee problem, bowled a pre-planned number of 8 overs before exiting the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring issue. He will receive scanning on the following day.

The Wood situation sucked the energy out of the day, as the Lions were bowled out for 382 on a slow, low surface after an automatic toss at Lilac Hill.

The tourists wanted to field first to build bowling fitness before the initial Test match at Optus Stadium, beginning on 21 November.

In a possible hint towards their first-Test plans, the visiting team fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialists plus Stokes – and omitted spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in the development squad.

Bethell didn't strengthen his claim for inclusion in the Test side, making just two runs, but Will Jacks enhanced his credentials to be selected later in the tour by swiping 84.

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

The team's plan to play a solitary warm-up game against the development squad has been questioned by some ex-players but Stokes responded by calling the doubters "former players".

A relaxed opening day in front of a smattering of spectators at the ground was definitely a different experience from what England will face 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 push himself to breaking point. He was absent from the last match with a shoulder tear.

The skipper has not completed a full part in any of England's past four series because of different fitness issues and the team's hopes of winning back the series are vastly diminished if he is absent from any of the five Tests in the host country.

He has been practicing at maximum speed for 60 days and appeared in good condition on the match day, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his dismissals were presented.

Jacks is unlikely to feature in the first Test – England look to have revealed their hand with the eleven named here. Nevertheless, he may have nudged himself in front of the struggling Jacob Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

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

Though the captain took the wickets, Archer impressed observers. He was energetic with the new ball and again after lunch, when he discomforted Jacks.

In the omission of Bashir and with Mark Wood departing, Joe Root was required to bowl fourteen overs of his off-spin. It was average performance, costing 117 runs at an run rate of over eight.

Joe Root at least took a scalp in the closing stages when Fisher unexpectedly hit a full toss to the fielder before Archer dismissed with a bouncer Potts for fifty-three with the last delivery of the day.