Stokes Secures 6 Wickets in England Test Series Warm-up

Practice match, Lilac Hill (first day of three)

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

National team: still to bat

The England captain delivered six wickets in his return to play after July but the tourists encountered an fitness worry about Mark Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up versus the development squad in Western Australia.

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

Pace bowler Mark Wood, also making his comeback after 9 months out with a knee injury, delivered a scheduled amount of eight overs before departing the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring issue. He will receive scanning on the following day.

Wood's injury removed the intensity out of the day, as the England Lions were dismissed for 382 on a slow track after an automatic toss at the venue.

England wanted to bowl first to build bowling fitness before the first Ashes Test at Optus Stadium, beginning on 21 November.

In a potential indication towards their opening Test strategy, the tourists fielded an all-pace attack – four specialists plus the captain – and left spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in the development squad.

Jacob Bethell failed to press his case for inclusion in the Test side, making just two runs, but Will Jacks boosted his credentials to be called upon later in the tour by hitting eighty-four.

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

The team's plan to play a single practice match against the Lions has been questioned by some ex-players but Stokes hit back by labeling the doubters "has-beens".

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

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

The captain has not completed a complete participation in any of England's previous four series because of various injuries and the team's hopes of regaining the Ashes are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five matches in Australia.

He has been bowling 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 gifted.

Jacks is not expected to play in the opening match – England look to have shown their intentions with the eleven selected here. Still, he may have nudged himself in front of the out-of-sorts Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

Even before the doubt over Wood, the five seamers in the team lineup for this game may not have been the attack for the initial match.

Carse was absent from the first day because of illness, with his place going to Josh Tongue. Tongue had Lions opener McKinney edging to the keeper just after the break.

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

In the absence of Bashir and with Mark Wood leaving the field, Root was required to bowl 14 overs of his spin bowling. It was mediocre fare, costing 117 at an economy of over eight.

Root at least took a wicket in the closing stages when Fisher unexpectedly hit a full toss to the fielder before Jofra Archer bounced out Matthew Potts for 53 with the final ball of the day.