Stokes Secures Six Wickets in England Ashes Preparation Match

Tour match, Lilac Hill (day one of three)

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

England XI: still to bat

Ben Stokes produced six wickets in his return to play since July but England encountered an injury concern about fast bowler Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up against England Lions in Perth.

The England captain, returning after approximately four months out with a shoulder problem, delivered 16 overs across three spells for his six for fifty-two versus the Lions – each to catches taken on the leg side.

Fast bowler Mark Wood, also making his comeback after nine months away with a knee injury, delivered a scheduled amount of 8 overs before leaving the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring issue. He will have a scan on the following day.

Wood's injury removed the energy out of the day, as the England Lions were bowled out for three hundred eighty-two on a slow track after an automatic toss at Lilac Hill.

The tourists aimed to bowl first to accumulate bowling time before the first Ashes Test at the main venue, beginning on 21 November.

In a potential indication towards their opening Test strategy, the tourists selected an fast bowling lineup – four specialist bowlers plus Stokes – and left off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in the Lions.

Bethell didn't strengthen his case for inclusion in the Test side, making just two runs, but Jacks boosted his claim to be called upon later in the tour by hitting eighty-four.

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

England's decision to play a solitary practice match against the development squad has been criticized by some ex-players but Stokes responded by calling the critics "former players".

A relaxed opening day in front of a small crowd of fans at Lilac Hill was definitely a world away from what the team will encounter at a packed main stadium next week.

The captain was superb in the contest against the Indian team in the domestic season, only to strain himself to injury. He was absent from the final Test with a torn shoulder.

The captain has not managed a complete participation in any of England's previous four tours because of various injuries and the tourists' hopes of regaining the series are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five matches in Australia.

He has been practicing at full pace for two months and appeared in good condition on the match day, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his dismissals were presented.

Jacks is unlikely to play in the opening match – England look to have shown their intentions with the XI named here. Still, he may have moved himself in front 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 attack for the initial match.

Carse missed the opening day because of sickness, with his position going to Tongue. Josh Tongue had opening batsman Ben McKinney caught behind just after lunch.

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

In the omission of Bashir and with Mark Wood leaving the field, Root was required to bowl 14 overs of his off-spin. It was average performance, conceding 117 at an run rate of more than eight.

Joe Root at least took a scalp in the final session when Fisher unexpectedly hit a full toss to mid-on before Archer dismissed with a bouncer Matthew Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.