Stokes Claims Six Wickets in England Ashes Warm-up

Practice game, Lilac Hill (day one of three)

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

National team: yet to bat

The England captain delivered six wickets in his return to play following July but England encountered an injury concern involving Mark Wood on the first day of their Test preparation against England Lions in Perth.

Stokes, making his comeback after almost four months away with a shoulder injury, delivered sixteen overs across three spells for his six for fifty-two against England Lions – each to catches taken on the on-side.

Pace bowler Wood, also making his comeback after nine months out with a knee injury, bowled a scheduled amount of 8 overs before leaving the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring problem. He will have a scan on the following day.

The Wood situation sucked the energy out of the day, as the Lions were bowled out for three hundred eighty-two on a sluggish pitch after an uncontested toss at the venue.

England aimed to bowl first to get overs in their legs before the first Ashes Test at Optus Stadium, beginning on 21 November.

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

Jacob Bethell didn't strengthen his claim for inclusion in the Test team, making just two runs, but Will Jacks boosted his credentials to be selected later in the tour by scoring 84.

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

The team's decision to play a solitary practice match against the Lions has been questioned by some former players but the captain hit back by calling the doubters "former players".

A low-pressure first day in front of a small crowd of spectators at Lilac Hill was certainly a different experience from what the team will face at a packed Optus Stadium the following week.

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

The skipper has not managed a full part in any of the team's previous four series because of various injuries and the team's chances of regaining the series are vastly diminished if he is absent from any of the five Tests in the host country.

He has been bowling at full pace for 60 days and appeared in good condition on the match day, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his dismissals were presented.

Will Jacks is unlikely 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.

Prior to the doubt over Mark Wood, the five fast bowlers in the England XI for this game may not have been the attack for the first Test.

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

Although the captain took the scalps, Jofra Archer caught the eye. He was energetic with the new ball and once more after lunch, when he discomforted Will Jacks.

In the absence of Shoaib Bashir and with Wood departing, Joe Root was required to deliver 14 overs of his off-spin. It was average performance, conceding 117 runs at an run rate of over eight.

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