Stokes Claims 6 Wickets in English Ashes Warm-up

Tour game, Perth venue (day one of three)

England Lions 382: Jacks 84, Ben McKinney 67; Stokes 6-52

England XI: yet to bat

Ben Stokes produced 6 scalps in his return to play following July but the tourists faced an fitness worry involving fast bowler Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up against England Lions in Perth.

Stokes, making his comeback after approximately four months away with a shoulder injury, bowled sixteen overs across three spells for his 6-52 versus England Lions – each to catches on the leg side.

Fast bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after nine months out with a knee injury, delivered a scheduled amount of eight overs before leaving the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring problem. He will undergo scanning on the following day.

Wood's injury removed the energy out of the day, as the Lions were bowled out for 382 on a slow, low surface after an automatic toss at the venue.

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

In a possible hint towards their opening Test strategy, the tourists selected an fast bowling lineup – four specialists plus the captain – and omitted spin bowler Bashir in the development squad.

Jacob Bethell didn't strengthen his claim for selection in the Test side, making just two runs, but Jacks boosted his credentials to be selected later in the tour by swiping eighty-four.

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

England's plan to play a single warm-up game against the Lions has been questioned by some ex-players but the captain responded by labeling the critics "former players".

A low-pressure 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 main stadium the following week.

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

The skipper has not managed a full part in any of the team's past four tours 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 Australia.

He has been practicing at full pace for two months and appeared in good condition on the match day, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his wickets were gifted.

Jacks is unlikely to play in the opening match – England 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 nearly run-a-ball pace.

Even before 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 initial match.

Brydon Carse missed the opening day because of illness, with his position going to Josh Tongue. Tongue had opening batsman Ben McKinney caught behind just after lunch.

Although the captain took the wickets, Archer impressed observers. He was energetic with the new ball and again after the interval, when he caused problems for Will Jacks.

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

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