Ben Stokes Claims 6 Scalps in English Ashes Warm-up

Practice match, Perth venue (day one of three)

Development squad 382: Jacks 84, Ben McKinney 67; Ben Stokes 6-52

National team: still to bat

Ben Stokes delivered six wickets in his initial appearance following July but England encountered an injury concern about Mark Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up versus England Lions in Perth.

The England captain, returning after almost four months out with a shoulder problem, delivered sixteen overs across three spells for his six for fifty-two versus England Lions – all to catches on the leg side.

Fast bowler Wood, himself returning after 9 months away with a knee injury, delivered a pre-planned number of eight overs before exiting the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring issue. He will have a scan on the following day.

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

The tourists aimed to bowl first to get overs in their legs before the first Ashes Test at the main venue, beginning on 21 November.

In a possible hint towards their opening Test strategy, the visiting team selected an all-pace attack – four specialists plus Stokes – and omitted spin bowler Bashir in the development squad.

Bethell didn't strengthen his case for selection in the Test side, making only two, but Jacks enhanced his claim to be selected later in the tour by hitting eighty-four.

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

The team's plan to play a single practice match against the Lions has been criticized by some ex-players but the captain hit back by calling the critics "has-beens".

A relaxed opening day in front of a small crowd of fans at the ground was certainly a different experience from what England will face at a sold-out main stadium the following week.

Stokes was superb in the contest against India in the home summer, only to push himself to injury. He missed the last match with a shoulder tear.

The captain has not managed a full part in any of the team's previous four tours because of different fitness issues and the team's chances of winning back the Ashes are vastly diminished if he is absent from any of the five Tests in Australia.

He has been practicing at maximum speed for 60 days and looked in good condition on the match day, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his wickets were presented.

Jacks is not expected to feature in the opening match – England look to have shown their intentions with the eleven named here. Still, he may have moved himself in front of the struggling Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at almost a run a ball.

Prior to the doubt over Wood, the five fast bowlers in the England XI for this match may not have been the bowling unit for the first Test.

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

Though the captain took the wickets, Jofra Archer impressed observers. He was energetic with the fresh ball and once more after the interval, when he caused problems for Will Jacks.

In the omission of Shoaib Bashir and with Wood departing, Root was required to bowl fourteen overs of his spin bowling. It was average performance, conceding 117 runs at an run rate of over eight.

Root at least took a wicket in the closing stages when Fisher somehow struck a full delivery to the fielder before Archer dismissed with a bouncer Matthew Potts for fifty-three with the last delivery of the day.