Stokes Secures 6 Scalps in England Ashes Warm-up

Practice game, Lilac Hill (first day of 3)

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

National team: still to bat

The England captain produced six wickets in his return to play following July but the tourists encountered an injury concern involving Mark Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up versus the development squad in Western Australia.

Stokes, returning after almost four months away with a shoulder problem, bowled 16 overs across three spells for his six for fifty-two against England Lions – each to catches 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 8 overs before departing the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring issue. He will have a scan on Friday.

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

England wanted to bowl first to get overs in their legs before the initial Test match at Optus Stadium, starting on 21 November.

In a potential indication towards their first-Test plans, the visiting team fielded an all-pace attack – four specialist bowlers plus the captain – and left spin bowler Bashir in the development squad.

Jacob Bethell didn't strengthen his case for selection in the Test team, making just two runs, but Will Jacks enhanced his credentials to be selected during the series by scoring 84.

Ben McKinney, Cox, teenage Rew and Matthew Potts also scored fifties.

The team's decision to play a solitary warm-up game against the Lions has been questioned by some former players but Stokes responded by calling the critics "past players".

A low-pressure first day in front of a smattering of spectators at Lilac Hill was definitely a world away from what the team will face at a sold-out Optus Stadium next week.

Stokes was superb in the contest against India in the home summer, only to push himself to breaking point. He was absent from the last match with a torn shoulder.

The skipper has not managed a full part in any of England's past four tours because of various injuries and the team's chances of winning back the series are significantly reduced if he is absent from any of the five matches in the host country.

He has been bowling at maximum speed for two months and looked in fine shape on Wednesday, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his wickets were presented.

Jacks is unlikely to feature in the opening match – England look to have revealed their hand with the eleven named here. Nevertheless, he may have nudged himself ahead of the struggling Jacob Bethell with his 84, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

Prior to the concern over 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 first day because of illness, with his place going to Tongue. Tongue had opening batsman McKinney edging to the keeper just after the break.

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

In the omission of Bashir and with Mark Wood departing, Joe Root was required to bowl fourteen overs of his spin bowling. It was average performance, costing 117 runs at an run rate of more than eight.

Root at least took a wicket in the closing stages when Matt Fisher somehow hit a full delivery to the fielder before Archer bounced out Potts for fifty-three with the last delivery of the day.