Ben Stokes Claims 6 Wickets in English Ashes Preparation Match

Tour match, Perth venue (day one of three)

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

England XI: still to bat

Ben Stokes delivered six wickets in his return to play since July but England encountered an injury concern regarding Mark Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up versus England Lions in Perth.

The England captain, making his comeback after nearly four months away with a shoulder injury, bowled 16 overs across three bowling spells for his six for fifty-two versus England Lions – each to catches taken on the on-side.

Fast bowler Wood, also making his comeback after nine months out with a knee injury, bowled a pre-planned number of 8 overs before exiting the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring issue. He will receive scanning on the following day.

Wood's injury drained the intensity out of the day, as the Lions were dismissed for 382 on a slow, low surface after an automatic toss at the venue.

The tourists aimed to field first to build bowling fitness before the initial Test match at Optus Stadium, starting on 21 November.

In a possible hint towards their opening Test strategy, the tourists selected an all-pace attack – four specialist bowlers plus the captain – and omitted spin bowler Bashir in the development squad.

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

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

The team's plan to play a solitary warm-up game against the Lions has been criticized by some former players but Stokes hit back by labeling the doubters "past players".

A low-pressure opening day in front of a smattering of spectators at Lilac Hill was definitely a world away from what the team will encounter at a packed Optus Stadium next week.

The captain was superb in the series against the Indian team in the home summer, 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 past four tours because of different fitness issues and the team's chances of regaining the series are vastly diminished if he is absent from any of the five Tests in Australia.

He has been bowling at full pace for two months and looked in good condition on Wednesday, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his wickets were gifted.

Jacks is not expected to play in the opening match – England look to have shown their intentions with the eleven selected here. Still, he may have nudged himself ahead of the out-of-sorts Bethell with his 84, which came at almost a run a ball.

Prior to the concern over Wood, the five fast bowlers in the team lineup for this game may not have been the attack for the first Test.

Carse missed the opening day because of sickness, with his place going to Josh Tongue. Josh Tongue had Lions opener Ben McKinney edging to the keeper just after lunch.

Although Stokes took the wickets, Archer impressed observers. He was energetic with the fresh ball and once more after the interval, when he discomforted Will Jacks.

In the omission of Shoaib Bashir and with Wood departing, Root was asked to deliver fourteen overs of his off-spin. It was mediocre fare, costing 117 runs at an run rate of more than eight.

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