Stokes Claims 6 Wickets in English Ashes Warm-up

Tour match, Lilac Hill (day one of three)

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

England XI: yet to bat

Ben Stokes produced 6 scalps in his initial appearance following July but the tourists encountered an injury concern about Mark Wood on the opening day of their Test preparation against England Lions in Perth.

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

Fast bowler Wood, himself returning after nine months away with a knee problem, bowled a pre-planned number of 8 overs before leaving the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring issue. He will undergo scanning on Friday.

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

England wanted to bowl first to build bowling fitness before the first Ashes Test at Optus Stadium, beginning on 21 November.

In a potential indication towards their opening Test strategy, the visiting team fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialist bowlers plus Stokes – and left spin bowler Bashir in the Lions.

Jacob Bethell failed to press his case for inclusion in the Test side, making only two, but Jacks boosted his credentials to be selected during the series by scoring 84.

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

England's decision to play a single practice match against the Lions has been criticized by some ex-players but the captain responded by calling the doubters "has-beens".

A relaxed first day in front of a small crowd of fans at the ground was certainly a different experience from what the team will face at a packed main stadium the following week.

Stokes was excellent in the contest against the Indian team in the home summer, only to strain himself to breaking point. He missed the last match with a shoulder tear.

The skipper has not managed a complete participation in any of the team's past four series because of different fitness issues and the tourists' chances of winning back the series are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five Tests in the host country.

He has been practicing at maximum speed for two months and appeared in good condition on Wednesday, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his dismissals were gifted.

Will Jacks is not expected to feature in the opening match – England look to have revealed their intentions with the eleven selected here. Nevertheless, he may have nudged himself ahead of the out-of-sorts Jacob 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 game may not have been the attack for the initial match.

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

Although Stokes took the scalps, Jofra Archer impressed observers. He was lively with the fresh ball and again after the interval, when he caused problems for Will Jacks.

In the absence of Shoaib Bashir and with Mark Wood departing, Root was required to deliver fourteen overs of his spin bowling. It was mediocre fare, costing 117 runs 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 mid-on before Archer dismissed with a bouncer Matthew Potts for fifty-three with the final ball of the day.