Ben Stokes Claims 6 Scalps in English Ashes Preparation Match

Tour match, Perth venue (day one of three)

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

England XI: still to bat

The England captain delivered six wickets in his return to play following July but England encountered an injury concern regarding Mark Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up versus England Lions in Western Australia.

The England captain, returning after nearly four months out with a shoulder problem, delivered 16 overs across three bowling spells for his 6-52 versus the Lions – each to catches on the on-side.

Fast bowler Wood, himself returning after 9 months out with a knee problem, bowled a scheduled amount of eight overs before leaving the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring issue. He will receive scanning on the following day.

The Wood situation sucked the intensity out of the day, as the England Lions were bowled out for 382 on a slow track after an uncontested toss at the venue.

England aimed to field first to accumulate bowling time before the first Ashes Test at the main venue, starting 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 omitted off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in the Lions.

Bethell failed to press his case for inclusion in the Test side, making just two runs, but Will Jacks boosted his claim to be called upon during the series by swiping 84.

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

England's plan to play a solitary practice match against the development squad has been questioned by some former players but the captain hit back by calling the doubters "former players".

A low-pressure first day in front of a smattering of fans at Lilac Hill was certainly a different experience from what the team will encounter at a packed main stadium the following week.

Stokes was excellent in the series against India in the home summer, only to strain himself to injury. He missed the final Test with a torn shoulder.

The skipper has not completed a full part in any of the team's past four tours because of different fitness issues and the team's hopes of regaining the series are significantly reduced if he is absent from any of the five matches in Australia.

He has been bowling at full pace for two months 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 unlikely to play in the first Test – the team look to have revealed their intentions with the XI named here. Still, he may have nudged himself in front of the struggling Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

Prior to the doubt over Mark Wood, the five seamers in the England XI for this match may not have been the bowling unit for the first Test.

Brydon Carse was absent from the first day because of illness, with his position going to Josh Tongue. Tongue had opening batsman Ben McKinney edging to the keeper just after lunch.

Though Stokes took the wickets, Archer impressed observers. He was lively with the new ball and again after lunch, when he caused problems for Jacks.

In the absence of Bashir and with Wood departing, Root was asked to deliver fourteen overs of his off-spin. It was mediocre fare, conceding 117 at an economy of over eight.

Root at least took a wicket in the closing stages when Fisher somehow hit a full delivery to mid-on before Archer dismissed with a bouncer Potts for fifty-three with the final ball of the day.