Ben Stokes Takes 6 Scalps in England Ashes Preparation Match

Practice match, Lilac Hill (day one of three)

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

England XI: still to bat

Ben Stokes achieved six wickets in his initial appearance following July but the tourists encountered an injury concern about fast bowler Wood on the opening day of their Test preparation versus the development squad in Perth.

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

Pace bowler Wood, also making his comeback after 9 months away with a knee injury, delivered a pre-planned number of eight overs before exiting the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring problem. He will have a scan on Friday.

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

The tourists wanted to bowl first to get overs in their legs before the first Ashes Test at the main venue, starting on November 21st.

In a possible hint towards their opening Test strategy, the visiting team fielded an all-pace attack – four specialists plus Stokes – and left off-spinner Bashir in the Lions.

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

Ben McKinney, Jordan Cox, teenage Thomas Rew and Matthew Potts also made half-centuries.

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

A relaxed opening day in front of a smattering of spectators at the ground was definitely a world away from what the team will encounter at a sold-out Optus Stadium the following week.

The captain was excellent in the contest against India in the home summer, only to strain himself to injury. He missed the last match with a torn shoulder.

The captain has not completed a complete participation in any of England's past four series because of different fitness issues and the tourists' hopes of regaining the series are vastly diminished if he misses 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 comprehend the way in which some of his wickets were gifted.

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

Prior to the doubt over Mark Wood, the five fast bowlers in the England XI for this game may not have been the attack for the initial match.

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

Although Stokes took the wickets, Jofra Archer caught the eye. He was energetic with the new ball and again after the interval, when he caused problems for Jacks.

In the absence of Bashir and with Wood leaving the field, Root was required to bowl fourteen overs of his off-spin. It was mediocre fare, costing 117 at an run rate of over eight.

Root at least claimed a scalp in the final session when Fisher unexpectedly hit a full delivery to the fielder before Archer bounced out Potts for fifty-three with the final ball of the day.