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

Tour match, Perth venue (day one of 3)

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

National team: awaiting batting

The England captain produced 6 scalps in his initial appearance since July but the tourists encountered an injury concern about Mark Wood on the opening day of their Test preparation against the development squad in Western Australia.

The England captain, returning after nearly four months away with a shoulder injury, bowled 16 overs across three bowling spells for his 6-52 against England Lions – all to catches on the leg side.

Fast bowler Mark Wood, also making his comeback after nine months away with a knee problem, bowled a pre-planned number of 8 overs before exiting the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring problem. He will receive scanning on Friday.

Wood's injury drained the intensity out of the day, as the England Lions were dismissed for three hundred eighty-two on a slow, low surface after an automatic toss at Lilac Hill.

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

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

Bethell failed to press his case for selection in the Test side, making just two runs, but Jacks boosted his claim to be called upon later in the tour by swiping eighty-four.

Ben McKinney, Cox, 17-year-old Thomas Rew and Potts also made half-centuries.

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

A low-pressure opening day in front of a smattering of spectators at the ground was definitely a world away 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 home summer, only to push himself to breaking point. He missed the final Test with a torn shoulder.

The skipper has not managed a complete participation in any of the team's previous four series because of different fitness issues and the team's chances of winning back the Ashes are significantly reduced if he is absent from any of the five matches in the host country.

He has been practicing at full pace for 60 days and looked in fine shape on the match day, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his wickets were gifted.

Jacks is not expected to feature in the first Test – England look to have revealed their intentions with the XI named here. Nevertheless, he may have moved himself ahead of the struggling Jacob Bethell with his 84, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

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

Brydon Carse was absent from the first day because of illness, with his place going to Tongue. Tongue had Lions opener Ben McKinney caught behind just after lunch.

Although the captain took the scalps, Jofra Archer impressed observers. He was lively with the new ball and again after lunch, when he discomforted Will Jacks.

In the absence of Bashir and with Mark Wood leaving the field, Joe Root was required to bowl 14 overs of his off-spin. It was average performance, conceding 117 at an economy of more than eight.

Root at least claimed a scalp in the final session when Matt Fisher somehow hit a full delivery to mid-on before Jofra Archer bounced out Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.