Ben Stokes Secures 6 Scalps in English Ashes Warm-up

Practice match, Lilac Hill (day one of three)

Development squad 382: Will Jacks 84, McKinney 67; Ben Stokes 6-52

National team: still to bat

The England captain achieved six wickets in his return to play after July but the tourists encountered an injury concern about Mark Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up versus England Lions in Perth.

Stokes, making his comeback after approximately four months out with a shoulder problem, delivered 16 overs across three spells for his 6-52 against the Lions – each to catches on the on-side.

Fast bowler Wood, also making his comeback after 9 months out with a knee injury, delivered a scheduled amount of eight overs before departing the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring issue. He will receive scanning on Friday.

Wood's injury sucked the energy out of the day, as the England Lions were dismissed for 382 on a slow, low surface after an uncontested toss at the venue.

The tourists aimed to field first to accumulate bowling time before the initial Test match at Optus Stadium, starting on November 21st.

In a possible hint towards their opening Test strategy, the visiting team fielded an all-pace attack – four specialists plus the captain – and left off-spinner Bashir in the Lions.

Jacob Bethell didn't strengthen his case for selection in the Test team, making just two runs, but Jacks enhanced his credentials to be called upon later in the tour by swiping eighty-four.

Ben McKinney, Jordan Cox, 17-year-old Rew and Matthew Potts also scored fifties.

The team's decision to play a single warm-up game against the development squad has been questioned by some ex-players but the captain hit back by calling the critics "has-beens".

A relaxed first day in front of a smattering of fans at Lilac Hill was certainly a different experience from what England will encounter at a sold-out Optus Stadium the following week.

Stokes was excellent in the series against the Indian team in the home summer, only to strain himself to injury. He was absent from the last match with a shoulder tear.

The captain has not completed a complete participation in any of England's previous four tours because of various injuries and the tourists' chances of regaining the Ashes are vastly diminished if he is absent from any of the five matches in Australia.

He has been bowling at full pace for 60 days and appeared in good condition on Wednesday, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his wickets were presented.

Will Jacks is unlikely to feature in the first Test – the team look to have shown their intentions with the XI named here. Still, he may have moved himself in front of the struggling Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

Even before 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.

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

Although Stokes took the wickets, Archer impressed observers. He was lively with the new ball and once more after the interval, when he caused problems for Will Jacks.

In the omission of Shoaib Bashir and with Wood departing, Root was required to bowl fourteen overs of his spin bowling. It was average performance, conceding 117 runs at an economy of more than eight.

Root at least claimed a scalp in the final session when Matt Fisher somehow struck a full toss to mid-on before Archer bounced out Potts for fifty-three with the final ball of the day.