Stokes Takes Six Scalps in English Ashes Warm-up

Tour match, Perth venue (day one of three)

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

England XI: yet to bat

Ben Stokes delivered 6 scalps in his initial appearance since July but England faced an injury concern regarding fast bowler Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up against England Lions in Western Australia.

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

Pace 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 post-lunch session because of a hamstring issue. He will undergo scanning on the following day.

The Wood situation drained the energy out of the day, as the Lions were bowled out for 382 on a slow track after an uncontested toss at the venue.

The tourists aimed to field first to get overs in their legs before the initial Test match at Optus Stadium, beginning on November 21st.

In a potential indication towards their opening Test strategy, the tourists fielded an all-pace attack – four specialist bowlers plus Stokes – and left off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in the development squad.

Bethell didn't strengthen his claim for inclusion in the Test team, making only two, but Will Jacks boosted his credentials to be called upon during the series by scoring eighty-four.

McKinney, Jordan Cox, 17-year-old Thomas Rew and Matthew Potts also scored half-centuries.

The team's plan to play a single practice match against the development squad has been criticized by some ex-players but the captain hit back by labeling the doubters "former players".

A relaxed opening day in front of a small crowd of fans at the ground was certainly a world away from what England will encounter at a packed Optus Stadium the following week.

Stokes was excellent in the contest against India in the domestic season, only to strain himself to injury. He missed the last match with a torn shoulder.

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

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

Will Jacks is unlikely to play in the first Test – England look to have revealed their hand with the XI selected here. Still, he may have moved himself in front of the struggling Jacob Bethell with his 84, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

Prior to the concern over Mark Wood, the five fast bowlers in the England XI for this match may not have been the attack for the initial match.

Carse was absent from the opening day because of sickness, with his position going to Tongue. Tongue had Lions opener Ben McKinney caught behind just after the break.

Though Stokes took the scalps, Jofra Archer caught the eye. He was energetic with the new ball and once more after the interval, when he discomforted Will Jacks.

In the omission of Shoaib Bashir and with Mark Wood leaving the field, Root was asked to deliver fourteen overs of his off-spin. It was average performance, conceding 117 at an run rate of more than eight.

Root at least claimed a scalp in the final session when Fisher unexpectedly hit a full toss to mid-on before Jofra Archer dismissed with a bouncer Matthew Potts for fifty-three with the last delivery of the day.