Ben Stokes Secures Six Scalps in English Test Series Warm-up

Practice match, Lilac Hill (day one of 3)

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

England XI: awaiting batting

The England captain produced six wickets in his initial appearance after July but England faced an injury concern regarding fast bowler Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up against the development squad in Western Australia.

Stokes, returning after approximately four months away with a shoulder injury, delivered 16 overs across three bowling spells for his 6-52 versus the Lions – each to catches on the on-side.

Fast bowler Wood, also making his comeback after nine months out with a knee problem, delivered a pre-planned number of eight overs before departing the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring issue. He will have a scan on Friday.

The Wood situation drained the intensity 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 aimed to bowl first to get overs in their legs before the first Ashes Test at Optus Stadium, beginning on 21 November.

In a possible hint towards their opening Test strategy, the tourists fielded an all-pace attack – four specialist bowlers plus Stokes – and left spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in the development squad.

Bethell didn't strengthen his case for selection in the Test team, making just two runs, but Will Jacks boosted his claim to be selected later in the tour by scoring 84.

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

England's decision to play a solitary warm-up game against the Lions has been criticized by some ex-players but the captain hit back by labeling the doubters "past players".

A relaxed opening day in front of a small crowd of spectators at Lilac Hill was definitely a different experience from what England will encounter at a packed Optus Stadium next week.

The captain was excellent in the series against the Indian team in the domestic season, only to push himself to injury. He was absent from the final Test with a torn shoulder.

The captain has not managed a full part in any of the team's past four series because of different fitness issues and the tourists' chances of winning back the series are vastly diminished if he misses any of the five Tests in the host country.

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

Will Jacks is not expected to feature in the opening match – England look to have shown their hand with the XI named here. Still, he may have nudged himself ahead of the out-of-sorts Bethell with his 84, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

Even before the doubt over Wood, the five seamers in the team lineup for this game may not have been the attack for the first Test.

Carse missed the first day because of sickness, with his place going to Tongue. Josh Tongue had opening batsman Ben McKinney caught behind just after lunch.

Though Stokes took the wickets, Jofra Archer caught the eye. He was energetic with the new ball and again after lunch, when he discomforted Jacks.

In the omission of Bashir and with Mark Wood departing, Joe Root was asked to deliver 14 overs of his spin bowling. It was mediocre fare, conceding 117 at an economy of more than eight.

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