Ben Stokes Claims Six Scalps in England Ashes Warm-up

Tour game, Lilac Hill (first day of 3)

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

England XI: still to bat

The England captain produced 6 scalps in his return to play since July but England faced an injury concern involving Mark Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up against England Lions in Western Australia.

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

Pace bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after 9 months away with a knee problem, bowled a scheduled amount of 8 overs before exiting the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring problem. He will receive scanning on the following day.

The Wood situation sucked the energy out of the day, as the England Lions were bowled out for three hundred eighty-two on a sluggish pitch after an automatic toss at Lilac Hill.

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

In a potential indication towards their first-Test plans, the tourists selected an all-pace attack – four specialist bowlers plus the captain – and omitted spin bowler Bashir in the development squad.

Jacob Bethell didn't strengthen his case for inclusion in the Test side, making only two, but Will Jacks boosted his claim to be called upon later in the tour by hitting eighty-four.

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

England's plan to play a solitary warm-up game against the Lions has been criticized by some ex-players but the captain hit back by calling the doubters "has-beens".

A low-pressure first day in front of a small crowd of spectators at the ground was definitely a world away from what England will encounter at a packed main stadium the following week.

Stokes was excellent in the series against the Indian team in the domestic season, only to strain himself to breaking point. He was absent from the final Test with a torn shoulder.

The captain has not completed a complete participation in any of the team's past four tours because of various injuries and the tourists' chances of winning back the Ashes are significantly reduced if he is absent from any of the five Tests in Australia.

He has been practicing at full pace for 60 days and looked in good condition on the match day, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his dismissals were gifted.

Jacks is not expected to feature in the opening match – England look to have revealed their intentions with the eleven named here. Still, he may have nudged himself ahead of the out-of-sorts Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at almost a run a ball.

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

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

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

In the omission of Bashir and with Wood departing, Root was required to bowl 14 overs of his off-spin. It was mediocre fare, costing 117 at an run rate of over eight.

Joe Root at least claimed a wicket in the closing stages when Fisher unexpectedly hit a full toss to the fielder before Archer bounced out Potts for fifty-three with the last delivery of the day.