Stokes Claims Six Scalps in English Ashes Warm-up

Tour match, Perth venue (day one of three)

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

England XI: awaiting batting

Ben Stokes delivered six wickets in his first action after July but England faced an injury concern about 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 away with a shoulder problem, bowled 16 overs across three spells for his 6-52 versus the Lions – all to catches on the leg side.

Pace bowler Mark Wood, also making his comeback after 9 months out with a knee problem, delivered a pre-planned number of 8 overs before departing the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring problem. He will undergo scanning on the following day.

Wood's injury sucked the energy out of the day, as the Lions were dismissed for 382 on a slow track after an automatic toss at Lilac Hill.

England aimed to field first to get overs in their legs before the initial Test match at Optus Stadium, starting on 21 November.

In a potential indication towards their opening Test strategy, the tourists selected an fast bowling lineup – four specialist bowlers plus the captain – and left spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in the Lions.

Bethell failed to press his case for selection in the Test side, making just two runs, but Jacks enhanced his claim to be selected during the series by hitting eighty-four.

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

The team's decision to play a solitary practice match against the development squad has been criticized by some former players but the captain responded by labeling the doubters "has-beens".

A relaxed opening day in front of a smattering of spectators at the ground was certainly a world away from what England will face at a sold-out Optus Stadium next week.

The captain was excellent in the series against the Indian team in the domestic season, only to push himself to injury. He missed the final Test with a torn shoulder.

The skipper has not managed a full part in any of the team's past four series because of different fitness issues and the tourists' chances of regaining the Ashes are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five Tests in Australia.

He has been practicing at maximum speed for 60 days and looked in fine shape on the match day, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his wickets were gifted.

Will Jacks is unlikely to play in the opening match – England look to have revealed their hand with the XI named here. Still, he may have nudged himself ahead of the struggling Bethell with his 84, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

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

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

Though the captain took the wickets, Archer impressed observers. He was energetic with the new ball and again after the interval, when he discomforted Will Jacks.

In the omission of Shoaib Bashir and with Wood leaving the field, Root was required to deliver fourteen overs of his spin bowling. It was average performance, costing 117 runs at an economy of over eight.

Root at least claimed a wicket in the final session when Fisher unexpectedly hit a full delivery to the fielder before Archer dismissed with a bouncer Potts for 53 with the final ball of the day.