Ben Stokes Takes 6 Scalps in England Test Series Warm-up

Tour match, Lilac Hill (day one of three)

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

England XI: awaiting batting

Ben Stokes produced six wickets in his return to play after July but the tourists faced an injury concern about fast bowler Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up against England Lions in Perth.

The England captain, making his comeback after nearly four months away with a shoulder injury, bowled sixteen overs across three spells for his six for fifty-two against England Lions – each to catches taken on the on-side.

Fast bowler Wood, himself returning after nine months out with a knee problem, delivered a scheduled amount of 8 overs before departing the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring issue. He will receive scanning on Friday.

The Wood situation removed the energy out of the day, as the Lions were bowled out for 382 on a slow, low surface after an uncontested toss at the venue.

England wanted to field first to accumulate bowling time before the initial Test match at Optus Stadium, starting on 21 November.

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

Bethell failed to press his case for inclusion in the Test team, making just two runs, but Jacks boosted his credentials to be selected later in the tour by scoring eighty-four.

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

England's plan to play a single practice match against the development squad has been questioned by some former players but Stokes hit back by calling the doubters "past players".

A relaxed opening day in front of a smattering of spectators at the ground was certainly a different experience from what the team will face at a packed Optus Stadium next week.

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

The captain has not completed a full part in any of England's past four tours 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 Australia.

He has been bowling at full pace for 60 days and looked in fine shape on Wednesday, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his dismissals were gifted.

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

Prior to the doubt over Mark Wood, the five seamers in the England XI for this game may not have been the bowling unit for the first Test.

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

Though the captain took the wickets, Jofra Archer caught the eye. He was lively with the new ball and again after the interval, when he caused problems for Jacks.

In the absence of Bashir and with Wood leaving the field, Root was required to bowl fourteen overs of his spin bowling. It was average performance, conceding 117 runs at an economy of more than eight.

Root at least claimed a wicket in the closing stages when Fisher somehow struck a full toss to the fielder before Jofra Archer dismissed with a bouncer Matthew Potts for fifty-three with the final ball of the day.