Ben Stokes Secures Six Wickets in England Test Series Preparation Match

Practice match, Lilac Hill (first day of three)

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

National team: yet to bat

Ben Stokes delivered 6 scalps in his initial appearance after July but the tourists encountered an injury concern regarding Mark Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up versus the development squad in Perth.

The England captain, returning after nearly four months away with a shoulder problem, bowled sixteen overs across three bowling spells for his 6-52 versus England Lions – each to catches taken on the on-side.

Pace bowler Wood, himself returning after 9 months away with a knee problem, delivered a pre-planned number of eight overs before exiting the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring issue. He will have a scan on the following day.

Wood's injury removed the energy out of the day, as the England Lions were dismissed for 382 on a slow, low surface after an uncontested toss at Lilac Hill.

The tourists wanted to field first to get overs in their legs before the first Ashes Test at the main venue, starting on November 21st.

In a possible hint towards their first-Test plans, the visiting team fielded an all-pace attack – four specialists plus Stokes – and left spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in the development squad.

Bethell failed to press his case for inclusion in the Test team, making only two, but Jacks enhanced his claim to be selected during the series by swiping eighty-four.

McKinney, Jordan Cox, teenage Rew and Potts also made fifties.

England's plan to play a single warm-up game against the development squad has been criticized by some former players but the captain hit back by calling the critics "past players".

A low-pressure first day in front of a smattering of fans at Lilac Hill was certainly a different experience from what England will face at a packed main stadium next week.

Stokes was excellent in the series against the Indian team in the home summer, only to strain himself to injury. He was absent from the last match with a torn shoulder.

The captain has not completed a full part in any of England's previous four series because of various injuries and the tourists' chances of winning back the series are vastly diminished if he misses any of the five matches in the host country.

He has been bowling at maximum speed for two months and looked in fine shape on Wednesday, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his wickets were presented.

Jacks is not expected to play in the opening match – England look to have shown their hand with the eleven selected here. Still, he may have nudged himself ahead of the struggling Jacob Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at almost a run a ball.

Even before the doubt over Wood, the five seamers in the England XI for this game may not have been the bowling unit for the first Test.

Carse was absent from the opening day because of sickness, with his position going to Josh Tongue. Josh Tongue had opening batsman McKinney caught behind just after lunch.

Although Stokes took the wickets, Jofra Archer caught the eye. He was lively with the fresh ball and once more after the interval, when he caused problems for Jacks.

In the omission of Shoaib Bashir and with Wood departing, Root was asked to bowl fourteen overs of his off-spin. It was mediocre fare, costing 117 at an economy of more than eight.

Joe Root at least took a scalp in the closing stages when Matt Fisher unexpectedly struck a full toss to mid-on before Jofra Archer bounced out Matthew Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.