Ben Stokes Claims 6 Wickets in English Test Series Preparation Match

Practice match, Lilac Hill (day one of three)

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

National team: still to bat

Ben Stokes achieved 6 scalps in his first action following July but the tourists faced an injury concern about Mark Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up against England Lions in Perth.

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

Fast bowler Mark Wood, also making his comeback after 9 months away with a knee problem, bowled a pre-planned number of eight overs before departing the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring problem. He will undergo scanning on Friday.

The Wood situation drained the intensity out of the day, as the England Lions were dismissed for 382 on a slow track after an automatic toss at Lilac Hill.

The tourists wanted to field first to accumulate bowling time before the first Ashes Test at Optus Stadium, beginning on 21 November.

In a possible hint towards their opening Test strategy, the visiting team selected an fast bowling lineup – four specialist bowlers plus the captain – and omitted spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in the Lions.

Bethell failed to press his claim for inclusion in the Test team, making only two, but Will Jacks enhanced his credentials to be selected later in the tour by swiping eighty-four.

McKinney, Jordan Cox, teenage Thomas Rew and Matthew Potts also scored half-centuries.

The team's decision to play a single warm-up game against the Lions has been criticized by some ex-players but the captain responded by calling the critics "past players".

A relaxed opening day in front of a smattering of spectators at the ground was certainly a world away from what England will encounter at a sold-out Optus Stadium the following week.

Stokes was superb in the series against the Indian team in the home summer, only to push himself to injury. He was absent from the final Test with a shoulder tear.

The skipper has not completed a full part in any of England's past four tours because of different fitness issues and the team's hopes of winning back the Ashes are vastly diminished if he misses any of the five Tests in Australia.

He has been bowling at maximum speed for 60 days and looked in good condition on Wednesday, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his dismissals were presented.

Will Jacks is not expected to play in the first Test – England look to have shown their intentions with the XI selected here. Still, he may have nudged himself ahead of the struggling 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 team lineup 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 Josh Tongue. Josh Tongue had Lions opener Ben McKinney edging to the keeper just after the break.

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

In the absence of Shoaib Bashir and with Mark Wood leaving the field, Joe Root was asked to bowl fourteen overs of his spin bowling. It was mediocre fare, costing 117 runs at an economy of over eight.

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