Ben Stokes Claims Six Wickets in England Ashes Preparation Match

Practice game, Lilac Hill (day one of three)

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

England XI: still to bat

The England captain achieved six wickets in his initial appearance since July but the tourists encountered an fitness worry about Mark Wood on the opening day of their Test preparation against the development squad in Western Australia.

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

Fast bowler Wood, himself returning after nine months away with a knee injury, bowled a pre-planned number of 8 overs before leaving the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring problem. He will have a scan on the following day.

Wood's injury drained the energy out of the day, as the England Lions were dismissed for 382 on a slow, low surface after an uncontested toss at the venue.

The tourists wanted to bowl first to build bowling fitness before the first Ashes Test at the main venue, beginning on November 21st.

In a possible hint towards their opening Test strategy, the visiting team fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialists plus Stokes – and omitted spin bowler Bashir in the Lions.

Bethell failed to press his claim for inclusion in the Test team, making just two runs, but Will Jacks enhanced his credentials to be selected during the series by hitting 84.

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

England's decision to play a single practice match against the Lions has been questioned by some ex-players but the captain responded by calling the doubters "former players".

A relaxed first day in front of a small crowd of fans at Lilac Hill was certainly a world away from what the team will face at a packed Optus Stadium the following week.

Stokes was excellent in the contest against the Indian team in the home summer, only to strain 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 previous four series because of various injuries 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 appeared in fine shape on the match day, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his wickets were presented.

Will Jacks is unlikely to play in the opening match – the team look to have shown their intentions with the eleven named here. Nevertheless, he may have nudged himself in front of the struggling Jacob Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at almost a run a ball.

Prior to the doubt over Mark Wood, the five fast bowlers in the team lineup for this match may not have been the bowling unit for the initial match.

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

Though the captain took the scalps, Archer impressed observers. He was lively with the fresh ball and again after lunch, when he discomforted Will Jacks.

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

Root at least took a wicket in the final session when Matt Fisher unexpectedly hit a full toss to the fielder before Archer bounced out Matthew Potts for fifty-three with the last delivery of the day.