Ben Stokes Claims 6 Scalps in English Ashes Preparation Match

Practice game, Perth venue (day one of three)

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

National team: awaiting batting

The England captain produced six wickets in his initial appearance following July but England faced an fitness worry about fast bowler Wood on the opening day of their Test preparation against the development squad in Perth.

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

Pace bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after nine months out with a knee problem, bowled a scheduled amount of eight overs before exiting the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring problem. He will receive scanning on Friday.

The Wood situation sucked the energy out of the day, as the England Lions were bowled out for three hundred eighty-two on a slow track after an automatic toss at the venue.

England wanted to bowl first to get overs in their legs before the first Ashes Test at the main venue, starting on 21 November.

In a possible hint towards their first-Test plans, the visiting team fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialists plus the captain – and left spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in the development squad.

Bethell didn't strengthen his case for inclusion in the Test side, making only two, but Will Jacks enhanced his credentials to be selected during the series by scoring eighty-four.

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

The team's plan to play a single warm-up game against the development squad has been criticized by some former players but Stokes responded by calling the critics "has-beens".

A relaxed first day in front of a smattering of spectators at Lilac Hill was certainly a world away from what England will encounter at a packed main stadium the following week.

Stokes was superb in the series against India in the domestic season, only to push himself to breaking point. He missed the last match with a shoulder tear.

The captain has not completed a full part in any of England's past four series because of different fitness issues and the tourists' chances of regaining the series are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five matches in the host country.

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 wickets were presented.

Jacks is unlikely to feature in the first Test – England look to have revealed their intentions with the eleven named here. Still, he may have moved himself in front of the out-of-sorts Jacob Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

Prior to the concern over Mark Wood, the five fast bowlers in the England XI for this match may not have been the attack for the initial match.

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

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

In the omission of Bashir and with Wood leaving the field, Joe Root was required to deliver fourteen overs of his spin bowling. It was average performance, conceding 117 at an run rate of more than eight.

Joe Root at least took a wicket in the closing stages when Matt Fisher unexpectedly hit a full delivery to mid-on before Archer bounced out Matthew Potts for fifty-three with the final ball of the day.