Ben Stokes Secures 6 Scalps in England Test Series Warm-up

Tour match, Lilac Hill (first day of three)

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

National team: still to bat

Ben Stokes produced 6 scalps in his initial appearance after July but the tourists faced an fitness worry about Mark Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up versus the development squad in Perth.

The England captain, returning after almost four months out with a shoulder problem, bowled sixteen overs across three spells for his six for fifty-two against England Lions – all to catches on the on-side.

Pace bowler Wood, himself returning after nine months out with a knee problem, delivered a pre-planned number of 8 overs before leaving the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring issue. He will have a scan on the following day.

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

The tourists wanted to field first to build bowling fitness before the first Ashes Test at the main venue, starting on November 21st.

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

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

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

England's decision to play a solitary practice match against the development squad has been criticized by some former players but the captain hit back by labeling the critics "has-beens".

A relaxed first day in front of a small crowd of fans at Lilac Hill was definitely a different experience from what England will face at a sold-out Optus Stadium next week.

The captain was superb in the series against India in the home summer, only to strain himself to breaking point. He missed the final Test with a torn shoulder.

The captain has not completed a full part in any of the team's previous four series because of different fitness issues and the team's hopes of regaining the Ashes are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five matches in Australia.

He has been bowling at full pace for 60 days and appeared in good condition on Wednesday, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his wickets were gifted.

Jacks is unlikely to play in the first Test – the team look to have shown their intentions with the XI selected here. Still, he may have nudged himself ahead of the struggling Bethell with his 84, which came at almost a run a ball.

Even before the concern over Wood, the five seamers in the team lineup for this game may not have been the bowling unit for the initial match.

Carse was absent from the opening day because of illness, with his place going to Josh Tongue. Josh Tongue had opening batsman McKinney edging to the keeper just after lunch.

Although the captain took the scalps, Jofra Archer caught the eye. He was lively with the new ball and again after the interval, when he discomforted Will Jacks.

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

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