Ben Stokes Secures 6 Wickets in England Ashes Warm-up

Tour game, Lilac Hill (day one of 3)

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

National team: still to bat

Ben Stokes produced six wickets in his initial appearance after July but England encountered an fitness worry about fast bowler Wood on the opening day of their Test preparation against England Lions in Western Australia.

The England captain, returning after nearly four months out with a shoulder injury, delivered sixteen overs across three spells for his six for fifty-two against the Lions – all to catches on the on-side.

Pace bowler Mark Wood, also making his comeback after 9 months out with a knee problem, bowled a pre-planned number of eight overs before departing the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring issue. He will receive scanning on Friday.

Wood's injury removed the intensity out of the day, as the Lions were dismissed for three hundred eighty-two on a sluggish pitch after an uncontested 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 21 November.

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 Bashir in the development squad.

Bethell failed to press his claim for inclusion in the Test team, making only two, but Jacks enhanced his credentials to be selected later in the tour by swiping eighty-four.

Ben McKinney, Cox, 17-year-old Thomas Rew and Matthew Potts also scored fifties.

England's decision to play a single warm-up game against the Lions has been questioned by some ex-players but the captain responded by labeling the doubters "has-beens".

A relaxed opening day in front of a smattering of spectators at Lilac Hill was certainly a different experience from what the team will face at a packed main stadium next week.

Stokes was excellent in the series against India in the domestic season, only to push himself to injury. He was absent from the last match with a shoulder tear.

The captain has not managed a complete participation in any of England's past four tours because of different fitness issues and the team's hopes of regaining the series are vastly diminished if he misses any of the five matches in Australia.

He has been practicing at maximum speed for two months and looked in good condition on Wednesday, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his wickets were gifted.

Will Jacks is not expected to feature in the opening match – England look to have shown their hand with the XI named here. Nevertheless, he may have nudged himself in front of the out-of-sorts 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 game 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 Lions opener McKinney caught behind just after lunch.

Although the captain took the wickets, Archer caught the eye. He was energetic with the new ball and once more after lunch, when he caused problems for Jacks.

In the absence of Shoaib Bashir and with Wood leaving the field, Root was asked to deliver 14 overs of his spin bowling. It was mediocre fare, costing 117 runs at an run rate of over eight.

Joe Root at least claimed a wicket in the final session when Fisher unexpectedly struck a full toss to mid-on before Jofra Archer bounced out Matthew Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.