Stokes Secures Six Wickets in England Test Series Warm-up

Practice match, Perth venue (day one of three)

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

England XI: awaiting batting

The England captain delivered 6 scalps in his return to play since July but England faced an fitness worry about fast bowler Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up versus the development squad in Western Australia.

The England captain, returning after nearly four months away with a shoulder injury, delivered 16 overs across three spells for his six for fifty-two versus the Lions – each to catches taken on the leg side.

Pace bowler Wood, also making his comeback after nine months out with a knee problem, bowled a pre-planned number of eight overs before departing the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring issue. He will receive scanning on the following day.

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

The tourists wanted to field first to accumulate bowling time before the initial Test match at the main venue, starting on 21 November.

In a possible hint towards their first-Test plans, the tourists fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialist bowlers plus Stokes – and left off-spinner Bashir in the Lions.

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

Ben McKinney, Cox, 17-year-old Thomas Rew and Potts also made fifties.

The team's plan to play a single practice match against the development squad has been questioned by some ex-players but the captain hit back by labeling the critics "past players".

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

Stokes was superb in the series against India in the domestic season, only to strain himself to injury. He was absent from the final Test with a shoulder tear.

The skipper has not managed a complete participation in any of England's past four tours because of different fitness issues and the tourists' chances of regaining the Ashes are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five matches in the host country.

He has been practicing at full pace for two months and appeared in fine shape 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 opening match – England look to have revealed their hand with the eleven selected here. Nevertheless, he may have nudged himself ahead of the out-of-sorts Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at almost a run a ball.

Prior to the doubt over Mark Wood, the five seamers in the team lineup for this game may not have been the attack for the initial match.

Brydon Carse was absent from the opening day because of illness, with his place going to Tongue. Josh Tongue had Lions opener Ben McKinney caught behind just after lunch.

Though the captain took the scalps, Jofra Archer caught the eye. He was energetic with the new ball and once more after the interval, when he discomforted Will Jacks.

In the absence of Bashir and with Wood departing, Joe Root was required to deliver fourteen overs of his spin bowling. It was average performance, conceding 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 the fielder before Jofra Archer dismissed with a bouncer Potts for 53 with the final ball of the day.