Ben Stokes Secures Six Scalps in English Test Series Warm-up

Practice match, Perth venue (day one of three)

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

National team: still to bat

Ben Stokes achieved six wickets in his first action after July but England encountered an injury concern regarding Mark Wood on the first day of their Test preparation versus the development squad in Perth.

Stokes, making his comeback after nearly four months away with a shoulder injury, delivered 16 overs across three spells for his six for fifty-two versus England Lions – each to catches taken on the leg side.

Pace bowler Mark Wood, also making his comeback after nine months out with a knee problem, bowled a pre-planned number of 8 overs before departing the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring issue. He will undergo scanning on the following day.

Wood's injury removed the energy out of the day, as the England Lions were bowled out for 382 on a sluggish pitch after an automatic toss at Lilac Hill.

England wanted to bowl first to build bowling fitness before the first Ashes Test at the main venue, beginning on November 21st.

In a possible hint towards their opening Test strategy, the tourists selected an all-pace attack – four specialists plus Stokes – and left off-spinner Bashir in the development squad.

Bethell failed to press his claim for selection in the Test team, making just two runs, but Will Jacks boosted his claim to be called upon during the series by scoring 84.

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

The team's plan to play a single practice match against the development squad has been questioned by some ex-players but Stokes responded by labeling the doubters "has-beens".

A low-pressure opening day in front of a smattering of fans at Lilac Hill was definitely a different experience from what the team will encounter at a sold-out main stadium next 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 final Test with a torn shoulder.

The skipper has not managed a full part in any of England's previous four series because of different fitness issues and the team's hopes of regaining the Ashes are significantly reduced if he is absent from any of the five matches in Australia.

He has been practicing at full pace for two months and looked 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 – England look to have revealed their intentions with the eleven named here. Nevertheless, he may have nudged himself in front of the struggling Jacob Bethell with his 84, which came at almost a run a ball.

Prior to the concern over Mark Wood, the five fast bowlers in the team lineup for this game may not have been the bowling unit for the first Test.

Carse missed 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 the break.

Although the captain took the scalps, Jofra Archer caught the eye. He was lively with the new ball and once more after lunch, when he caused problems for Jacks.

In the absence of Shoaib Bashir and with Mark Wood departing, Root was required to deliver fourteen overs of his spin bowling. It was average performance, conceding 117 at an run rate of more than eight.

Root at least took a wicket in the final session when Fisher somehow struck a full toss to the fielder before Jofra Archer bounced out Potts for fifty-three with the last delivery of the day.