Ben Stokes Secures 6 Scalps in England Ashes Warm-up

Practice game, Perth venue (day one of three)

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

England XI: still to bat

Ben Stokes delivered six wickets in his return to play since July but the tourists faced an injury concern involving Mark Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up versus the development squad in Perth.

Stokes, returning after almost four months out with a shoulder problem, delivered sixteen overs across three spells for his six for fifty-two against England Lions – all to catches taken on the leg side.

Fast bowler Wood, also making his comeback after 9 months away with a knee injury, bowled a scheduled amount of eight overs before exiting the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring problem. He will undergo scanning on the following day.

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

The tourists wanted to bowl first to build bowling fitness before the initial Test match at Optus Stadium, starting on 21 November.

In a potential indication towards their first-Test plans, the tourists fielded an all-pace attack – four specialists plus the captain – and omitted spin bowler Bashir in the Lions.

Bethell failed to press his claim for selection in the Test side, making just two runs, but Jacks enhanced his credentials to be called upon later in the tour by scoring 84.

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

The team's decision to play a single practice match against the Lions has been criticized by some ex-players but Stokes responded by calling the critics "past players".

A low-pressure first day in front of a small crowd of fans at Lilac Hill was certainly a world away from what England will face at a sold-out Optus Stadium next week.

The captain was excellent in the contest against India in the home summer, only to strain himself to breaking point. He was absent from the final Test with a torn shoulder.

The skipper has not managed a full part in any of the team's past four tours because of different fitness issues and the team's chances of winning back the Ashes are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five matches in Australia.

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

Jacks is not expected to play in the first Test – England look to have shown their hand with the eleven selected here. Nevertheless, he may have moved himself ahead of the out-of-sorts Bethell with his 84, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

Even before the concern over Wood, the five seamers in the England XI for this match may not have been the bowling unit for the initial match.

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

Though the captain took the scalps, Archer impressed observers. He was energetic with the new ball and once more after lunch, when he caused problems for Will Jacks.

In the absence of Bashir and with Wood leaving the field, Root was asked to deliver fourteen overs of his off-spin. It was average performance, costing 117 runs at an economy of more than eight.

Joe Root at least took a wicket in the closing stages when Fisher unexpectedly struck a full delivery to mid-on before Jofra Archer dismissed with a bouncer Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.