Ben Stokes Claims Six Wickets in English Test Series Warm-up

Practice match, Lilac Hill (day one of 3)

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

England XI: yet to bat

The England captain achieved 6 scalps in his first action after July but England encountered an fitness worry about Mark Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up against the development squad in Western Australia.

Stokes, making his comeback after almost four months out with a shoulder injury, delivered sixteen overs across three spells for his 6-52 against England Lions – each to catches taken on the on-side.

Fast bowler Wood, himself returning after 9 months away with a knee injury, delivered a scheduled amount 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.

The Wood situation 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 the venue.

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

In a possible hint towards their first-Test plans, the tourists fielded an all-pace attack – four specialists plus the captain – and left spin bowler Bashir in the Lions.

Jacob Bethell didn't strengthen his case for inclusion in the Test team, making just two runs, but Jacks boosted his claim to be selected during the series by hitting 84.

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

England's plan to play a single warm-up game against the development squad has been criticized by some former players but Stokes hit back by labeling the doubters "has-beens".

A relaxed first day in front of a smattering of spectators at the ground was definitely a world away from what the team will face at a packed main stadium next week.

Stokes was excellent in the contest against India in the home summer, only to strain himself to breaking point. He missed the final Test with a shoulder tear.

The skipper has not managed a full part in any of England's past four tours 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 the host country.

He has been bowling at full pace for two months and looked in fine shape on Wednesday, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his dismissals were gifted.

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

Even before the concern over Mark Wood, the five fast bowlers in the England XI for this game may not have been the attack for the first Test.

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

Although Stokes took the scalps, Jofra Archer impressed observers. He was energetic with the fresh ball and once more after the interval, when he discomforted Will Jacks.

In the omission of Shoaib Bashir and with Wood departing, Root was required to deliver 14 overs of his spin bowling. It was average performance, costing 117 runs at an run rate of more than eight.

Root at least took a scalp in the closing stages when Matt Fisher unexpectedly hit a full delivery to the fielder before Jofra Archer dismissed with a bouncer Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.