Ben Stokes Claims Six Scalps in English Ashes Preparation Match

Practice match, Lilac Hill (day one of 3)

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

England XI: awaiting batting

The England captain achieved six wickets in his first action following July but the tourists faced an injury concern involving fast bowler Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up against England Lions in Perth.

Stokes, making his comeback after nearly four months away with a shoulder injury, bowled 16 overs across three bowling spells for his 6-52 against the Lions – all to catches taken on the on-side.

Pace bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after 9 months away with a knee injury, delivered a pre-planned number of 8 overs before exiting the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring problem. He will undergo scanning on Friday.

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

The tourists wanted to bowl first to build bowling fitness before the initial Test match at Optus Stadium, beginning on 21 November.

In a potential indication towards their opening Test strategy, the visiting team fielded an all-pace attack – four specialists plus Stokes – and omitted spin bowler 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 during the series by hitting 84.

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

England's plan to play a solitary warm-up game against the Lions has been questioned by some former players but the captain responded by labeling the critics "has-beens".

A relaxed first day in front of a small crowd of spectators at Lilac Hill was definitely a world away from what England will encounter at a sold-out Optus Stadium the following week.

The captain was superb in the series against the Indian team in the domestic season, only to push himself to breaking point. He missed the last match 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 regaining the series are vastly diminished if he misses any of the five matches in Australia.

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

Jacks is unlikely to play in the first Test – the team look to have revealed their intentions with the eleven selected here. Still, he may have nudged himself in front of the out-of-sorts Bethell with his 84, which came at almost a run a ball.

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

Brydon Carse missed the first day because of illness, with his position going to Tongue. Josh Tongue had Lions opener Ben McKinney edging to the keeper just after the break.

Although the captain took the scalps, Archer caught the eye. He was energetic with the new ball and again after the interval, when he caused problems for Will Jacks.

In the absence of Bashir and with Wood departing, Root was required to bowl fourteen overs of his spin bowling. It was mediocre fare, costing 117 runs at an run rate of over eight.

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