Ben Stokes Claims 6 Scalps in English Test Series Preparation Match

Tour game, Perth venue (day one of three)

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

National team: yet to bat

Ben Stokes produced six wickets in his initial appearance since July but the tourists faced an fitness worry about Mark Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up versus England Lions in Western Australia.

The England captain, returning after almost four months out with a shoulder problem, delivered 16 overs across three spells for his six for fifty-two against England Lions – all to catches taken on the on-side.

Fast bowler Wood, also making his comeback after 9 months away with a knee injury, bowled a scheduled amount of 8 overs before exiting the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring issue. He will have a scan on Friday.

Wood's injury drained the energy out of the day, as the England Lions were bowled out for three hundred eighty-two on a slow track after an uncontested toss at Lilac Hill.

England wanted to bowl first to build bowling fitness before the initial Test match at the main venue, beginning on 21 November.

In a potential indication towards their opening Test strategy, the visiting team fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialists plus Stokes – and omitted off-spinner Bashir in the development squad.

Jacob Bethell failed to press his case for inclusion in the Test team, making only two, but Jacks boosted his claim to be called upon during the series by hitting eighty-four.

Ben McKinney, Cox, teenage Rew and Matthew Potts also scored fifties.

The team's plan to play a single warm-up game against the development squad has been criticized by some former players but Stokes responded by calling the doubters "former players".

A relaxed first 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 excellent in the contest against India in the home summer, only to strain himself to breaking point. He was absent from the last match with a shoulder tear.

The captain has not completed a full part in any of the team's previous four tours because of various injuries and the tourists' hopes of winning back the Ashes are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five Tests in Australia.

He has been practicing at full pace for two months and looked in fine shape on Wednesday, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his wickets were presented.

Will Jacks is not expected to play in the first Test – the team look to have revealed their hand with the eleven named here. Still, he may have moved himself ahead of the out-of-sorts Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at almost a run a ball.

Prior to the doubt over Mark Wood, the five seamers in the team lineup for this match may not have been the attack for the initial match.

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

Although Stokes took the scalps, Jofra Archer impressed observers. He was energetic with the fresh ball and once more after lunch, when he caused problems for 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 mediocre fare, conceding 117 at an economy of more than eight.

Root at least took a scalp in the final session when Fisher somehow struck a full toss to mid-on before Archer dismissed with a bouncer Matthew Potts for fifty-three with the final ball of the day.