Ben Stokes Claims 6 Wickets in England Ashes Warm-up

Practice match, Lilac Hill (day one of three)

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

National team: still to bat

The England captain achieved six wickets in his return to play after July but England encountered an fitness worry involving Mark Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up against England Lions in Perth.

Stokes, making his comeback after approximately four months out with a shoulder problem, delivered 16 overs across three spells for his 6-52 against England Lions – each to catches taken on the on-side.

Fast bowler Wood, himself returning after nine months out with a knee problem, bowled a pre-planned number of eight overs before departing the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring problem. He will receive scanning on the following day.

The Wood situation sucked the energy out of the day, as the England Lions were dismissed for 382 on a slow track after an uncontested toss at Lilac Hill.

The tourists aimed to bowl first to get overs in their legs before the initial Test match at the main venue, starting on November 21st.

In a possible hint towards their opening Test strategy, the visiting team selected an fast bowling lineup – four specialist bowlers plus Stokes – and left off-spinner Bashir in the development squad.

Bethell failed to press his claim for selection in the Test team, making only two, but Will Jacks enhanced his credentials to be selected later in the tour by hitting 84.

Ben McKinney, Cox, 17-year-old Rew and Matthew Potts also made half-centuries.

The team's decision to play a solitary warm-up game against the development squad has been criticized by some ex-players but the captain hit back by labeling the critics "past players".

A relaxed first day in front of a smattering of fans at Lilac Hill was certainly a different experience from what England will encounter at a sold-out Optus Stadium the following week.

The captain 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 the team'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 Tests in the host country.

He has been practicing at full pace for two months and appeared in good condition on Wednesday, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his dismissals were presented.

Jacks is not expected to feature in the first Test – England look to have shown their intentions with the XI named here. Still, he may have nudged himself ahead of the struggling Jacob Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at almost a run a ball.

Even before the concern over Wood, the five seamers in the team lineup for this match may not have been the attack for the first Test.

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

Although Stokes took the scalps, Archer impressed observers. He was lively with the fresh ball and again after the interval, when he discomforted Jacks.

In the omission of Bashir and with Mark Wood departing, Joe Root was asked to bowl 14 overs of his off-spin. It was mediocre fare, conceding 117 runs at an economy of more than eight.

Joe Root at least claimed a wicket in the final session when Matt Fisher somehow hit a full toss to mid-on before Jofra Archer bounced out Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.