Stokes Claims Six Wickets in English Test Series Warm-up

Practice match, Lilac Hill (first day of three)

Development squad 382: Will Jacks 84, Ben McKinney 67; Ben Stokes 6-52

National team: still to bat

The England captain achieved 6 scalps in his return to play after July but the tourists faced an injury concern about fast bowler Wood on the opening day of their Test preparation versus the development squad in Perth.

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

Pace bowler Wood, himself returning after 9 months out with a knee problem, delivered a scheduled amount of eight overs before leaving the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring issue. He will have a scan on the following day.

Wood's injury sucked the intensity out of the day, as the Lions were dismissed for 382 on a sluggish pitch after an uncontested toss at Lilac Hill.

The tourists aimed to bowl first to build bowling fitness before the first Ashes Test at Optus Stadium, beginning on 21 November.

In a potential indication towards their first-Test plans, the visiting team fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialists plus the captain – and omitted off-spinner Bashir in the development squad.

Bethell failed to press his claim for inclusion in the Test side, making only two, but Jacks boosted his claim to be called upon during the series by scoring eighty-four.

McKinney, Cox, teenage Rew and Potts also scored half-centuries.

England's plan to play a single practice match against the Lions has been criticized by some ex-players but the captain responded by labeling the critics "past players".

A low-pressure first day in front of a smattering of fans at the ground was certainly a world away from what the team will face at a packed Optus Stadium next week.

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

The skipper has not managed a complete participation in any of the team's previous four series because of various injuries and the tourists' chances of winning back the Ashes are significantly reduced if he is absent from any of the five Tests in the host country.

He has been bowling at full pace for two months and looked in fine shape on Wednesday, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his dismissals were presented.

Will Jacks is not expected to feature in the opening match – the team look to have shown their hand with the eleven selected here. Nevertheless, he may have moved himself ahead of the struggling Bethell with his 84, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

Even before the doubt over Mark Wood, the five fast bowlers in the team lineup for this match may not have been the attack for the initial match.

Brydon Carse missed the first day because of illness, with his place going to Josh Tongue. Josh Tongue had Lions opener McKinney caught behind just after lunch.

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

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

Joe Root at least claimed a wicket in the closing stages when Matt Fisher somehow hit a full toss to the fielder before Archer dismissed with a bouncer Potts for fifty-three with the last delivery of the day.