Ben Stokes Claims Six Scalps in England Ashes Preparation Match

Practice match, Lilac Hill (day one of three)

Development squad 382: Will Jacks 84, Ben McKinney 67; Stokes 6-52

National team: awaiting batting

The England captain achieved 6 scalps in his return to play after July but the tourists encountered an fitness worry involving Mark Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up versus England Lions in Perth.

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

Fast bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after 9 months out with a knee injury, bowled a pre-planned number of eight overs before leaving the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring issue. He will undergo scanning on the following day.

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

England aimed to field first to get overs in their legs before the initial Test match at Optus Stadium, starting on November 21st.

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

Bethell didn't strengthen his claim for selection in the Test side, making just two runs, but Jacks boosted his credentials to be called upon later in the tour by swiping 84.

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

England's decision to play a single warm-up game against the development squad has been questioned by some ex-players but Stokes hit back by calling the critics "has-beens".

A low-pressure opening day in front of a smattering of fans at the ground was definitely a world away from what the team will encounter at a sold-out main stadium next week.

Stokes was superb in the series against the Indian team in the home summer, only to strain himself to injury. He was absent from the last match with a shoulder tear.

The skipper has not managed a full part in any of the team's past four tours because of various injuries and the team's hopes of regaining the Ashes are significantly reduced if he is absent from any of the five matches in the host country.

He has been bowling at full pace for two months and looked in fine shape on Wednesday, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his dismissals were gifted.

Will Jacks is not expected to play in the opening match – the team look to have shown their intentions with the XI selected here. Still, he may have moved himself in front of the out-of-sorts Jacob Bethell with his 84, which came at almost a run a ball.

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

Carse missed the opening day because of illness, with his place going to Tongue. Tongue had Lions opener Ben McKinney caught behind just after lunch.

Though the captain took the scalps, Archer caught the eye. He was energetic with the fresh ball and once more after lunch, when he discomforted Jacks.

In the omission of Shoaib Bashir and with Mark Wood departing, Root was required to deliver 14 overs of his spin bowling. It was average performance, costing 117 runs at an economy of over eight.

Root at least claimed a wicket in the final session when Fisher unexpectedly hit a full toss to the fielder before Archer dismissed with a bouncer Potts for fifty-three with the last delivery of the day.