Stokes Claims Six Wickets in England Ashes Warm-up

Tour match, Perth venue (first day of 3)

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

National team: still to bat

Ben Stokes produced six wickets in his return to play following July but England encountered an fitness worry involving Mark Wood on the first day of their Test preparation against the development squad in Perth.

Stokes, making his comeback after almost four months out with a shoulder problem, bowled 16 overs across three bowling spells for his 6-52 versus England Lions – all to catches taken on the on-side.

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

The Wood situation sucked the energy out of the day, as the England Lions were dismissed 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 first Ashes Test at the main venue, beginning on 21 November.

In a potential indication towards their first-Test plans, the visiting team 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 side, making only two, but Jacks enhanced his credentials to be called upon during the series by scoring 84.

McKinney, Cox, 17-year-old Rew and Potts also made half-centuries.

The team's plan to play a solitary practice match against the development squad has been criticized by some former players but the captain responded by calling the critics "has-beens".

A low-pressure opening day in front of a smattering of fans at the ground was definitely a different experience from what the team will face at a packed Optus Stadium the following week.

Stokes was superb in the series against the Indian team in the home summer, only to push himself to breaking point. He missed the final Test with a torn shoulder.

The captain has not completed a complete participation in any of the team's past four series because of various injuries and the team's chances of winning back the series are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five Tests in Australia.

He has been practicing at maximum speed for two months and appeared in good condition on Wednesday, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his dismissals were gifted.

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

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

Carse missed the first day because of sickness, with his position going to Tongue. Tongue had opening batsman McKinney edging to the keeper just after the break.

Though Stokes took the scalps, Jofra Archer caught the eye. He was energetic with the fresh ball and once more after lunch, when he caused problems for Will Jacks.

In the absence of Bashir and with Mark Wood departing, Root was required to bowl 14 overs of his off-spin. It was mediocre fare, costing 117 runs at an economy of more than eight.

Joe Root at least took a scalp in the closing stages when Matt Fisher somehow hit a full toss to mid-on before Jofra Archer dismissed with a bouncer Potts for fifty-three with the final ball of the day.