Stokes Secures 6 Scalps in England Test Series Preparation Match

Practice game, Perth venue (day one of 3)

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

England XI: still to bat

The England captain achieved six wickets in his return to play since July but the tourists encountered an fitness worry involving fast bowler Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up against England Lions in Perth.

Stokes, returning after almost four months away with a shoulder problem, delivered 16 overs across three spells for his six for fifty-two versus the Lions – each to catches taken on the on-side.

Fast bowler Mark Wood, also making his comeback after 9 months out with a knee problem, bowled a pre-planned number of eight overs before exiting the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring issue. He will have a scan on Friday.

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

The tourists wanted to field first to build bowling fitness before the first Ashes Test at the main venue, starting on 21 November.

In a possible hint towards their opening Test strategy, the tourists selected an all-pace attack – four specialists plus the captain – and omitted spin bowler Bashir in the Lions.

Bethell failed to press his case for inclusion in the Test team, making just two runs, but Jacks enhanced his claim to be selected during the series by scoring 84.

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

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

A relaxed first day in front of a smattering of fans at the ground was certainly a different experience from what the team will face at a sold-out Optus Stadium next week.

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

The captain has not managed a full part in any of England's previous four tours because of various injuries and the team's hopes of winning back the Ashes are vastly diminished if he is absent from any of the five Tests in Australia.

He has been practicing at maximum speed for 60 days and looked in good condition on the match day, 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 opening match – England look to have revealed their intentions with the XI selected here. Still, he may have nudged himself in front of the struggling Jacob Bethell with his 84, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

Prior to the doubt over Mark Wood, the five fast bowlers in the team lineup for this game may not have been the bowling unit for the initial match.

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

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

In the absence of Bashir and with Wood departing, Joe Root was required to bowl 14 overs of his spin bowling. It was average performance, costing 117 runs at an run rate of more than eight.

Root at least claimed a wicket in the final session when Fisher unexpectedly struck a full toss to the fielder before Jofra Archer bounced out Matthew Potts for fifty-three with the final ball of the day.