Ben Stokes Takes 6 Scalps in English Test Series Preparation Match

Practice game, Lilac Hill (first day of three)

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

National team: yet to bat

The England captain achieved six wickets in his return to play after July but the tourists encountered an fitness worry involving fast bowler Wood on the first day of their Test preparation against England Lions in Western Australia.

Stokes, making his comeback after nearly four months away with a shoulder problem, delivered sixteen overs across three spells for his 6-52 against England Lions – each to catches on the on-side.

Pace bowler Wood, also making his comeback after 9 months out with a knee injury, delivered a scheduled amount of 8 overs before departing the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring problem. He will undergo scanning on the following day.

Wood's injury sucked the intensity out of the day, as the England Lions were dismissed for 382 on a slow, low surface after an uncontested toss at Lilac Hill.

England wanted to bowl first to build bowling fitness before the first Ashes Test at Optus Stadium, starting on 21 November.

In a potential indication towards their opening Test strategy, the visiting team fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialists plus the captain – and omitted spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in the development squad.

Bethell didn't strengthen his claim for selection in the Test side, making just two runs, but Will Jacks boosted his claim to be called upon during the series by scoring 84.

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

England's plan to play a solitary warm-up game against the Lions has been questioned by some ex-players but Stokes responded by labeling the doubters "former players".

A low-pressure opening day in front of a smattering of fans at the ground was definitely a world away from what England will face at a packed Optus Stadium next week.

The captain was excellent in the contest against the Indian team in the domestic season, only to push himself to injury. He missed the final Test with a torn shoulder.

The captain has not managed a full part in any of England's previous four series because of various injuries and the team's hopes of regaining the Ashes are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five Tests in Australia.

He has been bowling at full pace for two months and appeared in fine shape on Wednesday, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his wickets were presented.

Jacks is unlikely to play in the opening match – England look to have revealed their hand with the eleven selected here. Still, he may have nudged himself ahead of the struggling Bethell with his 84, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

Even before the doubt over Wood, the five seamers in the England XI for this game may not have been the bowling unit for the initial match.

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

Though the captain took the scalps, Jofra Archer impressed observers. He was energetic with the new ball and again after lunch, when he caused problems for Will Jacks.

In the absence of Bashir and with Mark Wood leaving the field, Joe Root was required to bowl fourteen overs of his off-spin. It was mediocre fare, conceding 117 at an economy of more than eight.

Joe Root at least claimed a wicket in the closing stages when Matt Fisher unexpectedly struck a full toss to the fielder before Archer bounced out Matthew Potts for 53 with the final ball of the day.