Stokes Secures Six Wickets in England Test Series Warm-up

Practice match, Perth venue (day one of 3)

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

National team: yet to bat

The England captain produced 6 scalps in his first action since July but England faced an injury concern involving fast bowler Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up against the development squad in Western Australia.

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

Fast bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after 9 months away with a knee injury, delivered a scheduled amount of eight overs before leaving the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring issue. He will receive scanning on Friday.

Wood's injury drained the intensity out of the day, as the Lions were bowled out for three hundred eighty-two on a slow track after an uncontested toss at Lilac Hill.

The tourists wanted 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 visiting team selected an fast bowling lineup – four specialists plus the captain – and omitted spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in the Lions.

Bethell failed to press his claim for selection in the Test team, making only two, but Jacks boosted his credentials to be called upon later in the tour by swiping eighty-four.

Ben McKinney, Jordan Cox, teenage Rew and Matthew Potts also scored half-centuries.

The team's decision to play a single warm-up game against the development squad has been questioned by some ex-players but Stokes responded by calling the doubters "former players".

A relaxed first day in front of a smattering of spectators at Lilac Hill was definitely a world away from what England will face at a sold-out main stadium next week.

Stokes was superb in the series against the Indian team in the domestic season, only to push himself to injury. He missed 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 different fitness issues and the tourists' chances of winning back the series are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five matches in Australia.

He has been bowling at maximum speed for two months and looked in fine shape on the match day, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his wickets were presented.

Jacks is unlikely to feature in the opening match – England look to have revealed their hand with the eleven named here. Nevertheless, he may have moved himself ahead of the out-of-sorts Jacob Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

Even before the concern over Mark Wood, the five fast bowlers in the England XI for this match may not have been the attack for the first Test.

Carse missed the opening day because of sickness, with his position 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 fresh ball and once more after lunch, when he caused problems for Jacks.

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

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