Stokes Secures 6 Scalps in England Ashes Preparation Match

Practice match, Lilac Hill (day one of three)

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

England XI: awaiting batting

Ben Stokes produced six wickets in his first action since July but England encountered an injury concern regarding Mark Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up against England Lions in Perth.

Stokes, returning after approximately four months out with a shoulder problem, delivered sixteen overs across three spells for his 6-52 versus England Lions – each to catches on the leg side.

Pace bowler Mark Wood, also making his comeback after 9 months out with a knee problem, delivered a scheduled amount of eight overs before exiting the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring problem. He will undergo scanning on Friday.

The Wood situation removed the energy out of the day, as the England Lions were bowled out for 382 on a slow track after an automatic toss at Lilac Hill.

The tourists wanted to field first to accumulate bowling time before the initial Test match at Optus Stadium, starting on 21 November.

In a possible hint towards their opening Test strategy, the tourists fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialist bowlers plus Stokes – and omitted spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in the Lions.

Jacob Bethell failed to press his case for inclusion in the Test team, making just two runs, but Jacks enhanced his claim to be selected later in the tour by scoring eighty-four.

McKinney, Cox, teenage Thomas Rew and Matthew Potts also scored fifties.

The team's plan to play a single warm-up game against the Lions has been questioned by some ex-players but the captain hit back by calling the doubters "has-beens".

A relaxed opening day in front of a small crowd of spectators at the ground was certainly a different experience from what the team will face at a packed main stadium the following week.

Stokes was superb in the contest against India in the home summer, only to push himself to breaking point. He was absent from the final Test with a shoulder tear.

The skipper has not managed a complete participation in any of England's past four tours because of various injuries and the team's chances of winning back the series are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five matches in the host country.

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

Jacks is not expected to play 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 Jacob Bethell with his 84, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

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

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

Although the captain took the wickets, Archer caught the eye. He was lively with the fresh ball and once more after the interval, when he discomforted Will Jacks.

In the omission of Shoaib Bashir and with Wood leaving the field, Joe Root was required to bowl fourteen overs of his spin bowling. It was mediocre fare, conceding 117 at an run rate of more than eight.

Joe Root at least took a wicket in the closing stages when Matt Fisher unexpectedly hit a full toss to the fielder before Archer bounced out Matthew Potts for fifty-three with the final ball of the day.