Ben Stokes Takes Six Scalps in English Test Series Warm-up

Practice match, Perth venue (day one of 3)

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

England XI: still to bat

The England captain achieved six wickets in his first action after July but England faced an fitness worry regarding Mark Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up versus England Lions in Western Australia.

The England captain, returning after approximately four months out with a shoulder injury, bowled sixteen overs across three spells for his 6-52 versus the Lions – each to catches on the on-side.

Fast bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after 9 months away with a knee problem, bowled a scheduled amount of eight overs before exiting the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring problem. He will undergo scanning on the following day.

The Wood situation sucked the energy out of the day, as the Lions were dismissed for 382 on a sluggish pitch after an automatic toss at the venue.

England wanted to field first to get overs in their legs before the first Ashes Test at the main venue, beginning on 21 November.

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

Bethell failed to press his case for inclusion in the Test team, making just two runs, but Will Jacks enhanced his credentials to be selected later in the tour by scoring 84.

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

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

A low-pressure opening day in front of a smattering of fans at Lilac Hill was certainly a world away from what the team will face at a packed main stadium the following week.

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

The skipper has not managed a complete participation in any of the team's past four tours because of various injuries and the team's chances of regaining the series are vastly diminished if he misses any of the five matches in Australia.

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

Will Jacks is unlikely to feature in the opening match – England look to have shown their intentions with the XI selected here. Still, he may have nudged himself ahead of the out-of-sorts Bethell with his 84, which came at almost a run a ball.

Prior to the doubt over Wood, the five fast bowlers in the England XI for this match may not have been the bowling unit for the initial match.

Carse missed the first day because of sickness, with his position going to Josh Tongue. Josh Tongue had opening batsman Ben McKinney edging to the keeper just after the break.

Though Stokes took the scalps, Jofra Archer caught the eye. He was energetic with the new ball and once more after lunch, when he caused problems for Jacks.

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

Joe Root at least claimed a scalp in the closing stages when Fisher unexpectedly hit a full toss to mid-on before Jofra Archer dismissed with a bouncer Potts for 53 with the final ball of the day.