Stokes Claims Six Scalps in English Ashes Warm-up

Tour match, Lilac Hill (first day of three)

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

England XI: still to bat

The England captain produced 6 scalps in his first action since July but England faced an injury concern involving Mark Wood on the first day of their Test preparation against England Lions in Western Australia.

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

Pace bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after 9 months away with a knee problem, bowled a pre-planned number of eight overs before leaving the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring problem. He will receive scanning on Friday.

Wood's injury removed the intensity out of the day, as the England Lions were bowled out for three hundred eighty-two on a slow, low surface after an automatic toss at the venue.

The tourists wanted to field first to get overs in their legs before the initial Test match at the main venue, starting on 21 November.

In a possible hint towards their opening Test strategy, the visiting team fielded an all-pace attack – four specialist bowlers plus the captain – and omitted off-spinner Bashir in the Lions.

Bethell failed to press his claim for selection in the Test team, making just two runs, but Jacks boosted his credentials to be selected later in the tour by swiping 84.

Ben McKinney, Jordan Cox, teenage Thomas Rew and Potts also made half-centuries.

England's decision to play a single practice match against the development squad has been questioned by some former players but the captain hit back by labeling the critics "has-beens".

A relaxed first day in front of a smattering of spectators at the ground was certainly a world away from what the team will encounter at a packed Optus Stadium the following week.

Stokes was excellent in the contest against India in the domestic season, only to strain himself to breaking point. He missed the final Test with a shoulder tear.

The skipper has not managed a full part in any of England's previous four series because of different fitness issues and the tourists' hopes of regaining the Ashes are significantly reduced if he is absent from any of the five Tests in Australia.

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

Will Jacks is not expected to play in the first Test – England look to have shown their hand with the XI named here. Nevertheless, he may have nudged himself ahead of the struggling Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at almost a run a ball.

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

Carse was absent from the opening day because of sickness, with his position going to Josh Tongue. Josh Tongue had Lions opener McKinney caught behind just after lunch.

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

In the omission of Bashir and with Mark Wood departing, Joe Root was asked to deliver fourteen overs of his spin bowling. It was average performance, conceding 117 at an run rate of over eight.

Root at least claimed a scalp in the closing stages when Fisher unexpectedly struck a full toss to the fielder before Jofra Archer dismissed with a bouncer Matthew Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.