Ben Stokes Takes 6 Scalps in England Ashes Preparation Match

Tour match, Perth venue (day one of three)

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

England XI: yet to bat

Ben Stokes achieved six wickets in his return to play after July but the tourists encountered an fitness worry about fast bowler Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up versus England Lions in Perth.

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

Pace bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after nine months out with a knee problem, bowled a pre-planned number of eight overs before leaving the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring problem. He will receive scanning on Friday.

The Wood situation sucked the intensity out of the day, as the Lions were dismissed for three hundred eighty-two on a slow, low surface after an uncontested toss at the venue.

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

In a potential indication towards their first-Test plans, the visiting team fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialist bowlers plus the captain – and omitted spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in the development squad.

Bethell didn't strengthen 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 hitting 84.

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

The team's decision to play a single warm-up game against the Lions has been questioned by some former players but Stokes hit back by calling the doubters "past players".

A relaxed first day in front of a smattering of spectators at Lilac Hill was definitely a different experience from what the team will face at a sold-out Optus Stadium the following week.

The captain was excellent in the contest against India in the home summer, only to push himself to breaking point. He missed the final Test with a shoulder tear.

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

He has been bowling at maximum speed 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 gifted.

Will Jacks is not expected to play in the opening match – the team look to have revealed their hand with the eleven named here. Nevertheless, he may have moved himself in front of the struggling Bethell with his 84, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

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

Brydon Carse was absent from the first day because of sickness, with his place going to Tongue. Tongue had opening batsman McKinney caught behind just after the break.

Though the captain took the scalps, Jofra Archer impressed observers. He was lively with the new ball and once more after the interval, when he discomforted Will Jacks.

In the absence of Bashir and with Wood departing, Joe Root was required to deliver 14 overs of his off-spin. It was mediocre fare, conceding 117 at an economy of more than eight.

Joe Root at least took a scalp in the final session when Fisher somehow struck a full delivery to mid-on before Jofra Archer dismissed with a bouncer Potts for fifty-three with the final ball of the day.