Ben Stokes Secures Six Wickets in English Ashes Preparation Match

Tour game, Lilac Hill (day one of three)

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

National team: yet to bat

The England captain produced 6 scalps in his first action following July but the tourists faced an injury concern about Mark Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up versus the development squad in Perth.

The England captain, making his comeback after nearly four months out with a shoulder injury, bowled 16 overs across three spells for his 6-52 against the Lions – all to catches taken on the leg side.

Pace bowler Wood, himself returning after 9 months out with a knee injury, bowled a pre-planned number of eight overs before leaving the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring problem. He will undergo scanning on Friday.

Wood's injury drained the energy out of the day, as the Lions were bowled out for three hundred eighty-two on a sluggish pitch after an uncontested toss at the venue.

England aimed to field first to accumulate bowling time before the first Ashes Test at Optus Stadium, beginning on 21 November.

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

Bethell didn't strengthen his claim for selection in the Test side, making just two runs, but Will Jacks boosted his credentials to be selected during the series by hitting eighty-four.

Ben McKinney, Jordan Cox, teenage Rew and Matthew Potts also made half-centuries.

The team's plan to play a single practice match against the development squad has been criticized by some former players but Stokes hit back by calling the doubters "has-beens".

A low-pressure opening day in front of a smattering of spectators at Lilac Hill was certainly a different experience from what England will encounter at a sold-out main stadium the following week.

The captain 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 torn shoulder.

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

He has been bowling at maximum speed for two months and appeared in fine shape on the match day, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his dismissals were gifted.

Jacks is not expected to play in the first Test – England look to have revealed their hand with the eleven selected here. Still, he may have moved himself in front of the struggling Jacob Bethell with his 84, which came at almost a run a ball.

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

Carse missed the first day because of sickness, with his position going to Tongue. Josh Tongue had Lions opener McKinney edging to the keeper just after lunch.

Though the captain took the scalps, Archer impressed observers. He was energetic with the new ball and again after lunch, when he discomforted Will 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 mediocre fare, conceding 117 at an economy of over eight.

Joe Root at least took a scalp in the final session when Matt Fisher unexpectedly hit a full toss to mid-on before Archer dismissed with a bouncer Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.