Stokes Claims Six Wickets in English Ashes Preparation Match

Practice match, Lilac Hill (day one of three)

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

National team: still to bat

Ben Stokes achieved six wickets in his return to play since July but England encountered an injury concern involving Mark Wood on the first day of their Test preparation against England Lions in Perth.

The England captain, returning after nearly four months out with a shoulder problem, delivered sixteen overs across three bowling spells for his 6-52 versus England Lions – all to catches taken on the on-side.

Fast bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after nine months away with a knee problem, bowled a pre-planned number of eight overs before departing the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring issue. He will have a scan on Friday.

The Wood situation drained the intensity out of the day, as the Lions were dismissed for 382 on a slow track after an automatic toss at Lilac Hill.

England aimed to bowl first to build bowling fitness before the initial Test match at Optus Stadium, beginning on 21 November.

In a potential indication towards their first-Test plans, the tourists selected an fast bowling lineup – four specialist bowlers plus Stokes – and omitted spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in the Lions.

Bethell didn't strengthen his case for inclusion in the Test side, making only two, but Jacks enhanced his claim to be selected later in the tour by swiping 84.

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

The team's plan to play a single practice match against the development squad has been criticized by some former players but the captain hit back by labeling the critics "past players".

A relaxed first day in front of a small crowd of fans at Lilac Hill was certainly a different experience from what the team will face at a sold-out main stadium next week.

Stokes was excellent in the series against India in the domestic season, only to push himself to injury. He was absent from the last match with a torn shoulder.

The captain has not managed a complete participation in any of the team's previous four series because of various injuries and the team's hopes of winning back the series are vastly diminished if he is absent from any of the five matches in Australia.

He has been bowling at maximum speed for 60 days and appeared in good condition on the match day, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his dismissals were gifted.

Will Jacks is unlikely to feature in the opening match – the team look to have revealed their intentions with the XI selected here. Nevertheless, he may have moved himself ahead of the struggling Bethell with his 84, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

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

Brydon Carse missed the first day because of sickness, with his place going to Tongue. Josh Tongue had Lions opener McKinney caught behind just after the break.

Though Stokes took the scalps, Archer impressed observers. He was lively with the fresh ball and again after lunch, when he caused problems for Will Jacks.

In the omission of Shoaib Bashir and with Wood leaving the field, Root was asked to bowl 14 overs of his off-spin. It was mediocre fare, costing 117 runs at an run rate of more than eight.

Root at least claimed a wicket in the closing stages when Matt Fisher unexpectedly 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.