Ben Stokes Claims 6 Wickets in English Ashes Preparation Match

Tour match, Perth venue (day one of three)

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

National team: yet to bat

The England captain delivered six wickets in his initial appearance after July but the tourists encountered an injury concern about Mark Wood on the first day of their Test preparation versus the development squad in Western Australia.

The England captain, returning after almost four months out with a shoulder problem, bowled 16 overs across three spells for his 6-52 against the Lions – each to catches taken on the leg side.

Pace bowler Wood, himself returning after nine months out with a knee injury, delivered a pre-planned number of 8 overs before exiting the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring issue. He will undergo scanning on Friday.

The Wood situation drained the intensity out of the day, as the Lions were dismissed for three hundred eighty-two on a sluggish pitch after an automatic toss at the venue.

England wanted to bowl first to get overs in their legs before the first Ashes Test at Optus Stadium, beginning on November 21st.

In a possible hint towards their opening Test strategy, the tourists fielded an all-pace attack – four specialists plus Stokes – and left spin bowler Bashir in the development squad.

Bethell failed to press his claim for selection in the Test side, making only two, but Will Jacks boosted his credentials to be selected later in the tour by hitting 84.

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

The team's decision to play a single warm-up game against the Lions has been questioned by some ex-players but the captain hit back by calling the doubters "past players".

A relaxed opening day in front of a smattering of spectators at Lilac Hill was definitely a different experience from what the team will encounter at a sold-out main stadium next week.

The captain was superb in the contest against the Indian team in the domestic season, only to push himself to breaking point. He was absent from the last match with a shoulder tear.

The skipper has not completed a full part in any of the team's previous four tours because of various injuries and the team's hopes of winning back the Ashes are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five Tests in Australia.

He has been bowling at full pace for 60 days and appeared in fine shape 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 first Test – England look to have revealed their hand with the XI selected here. Nevertheless, he may have nudged himself in front of the out-of-sorts Bethell with his 84, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

Even before the concern over Wood, the five seamers in the team lineup 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 Tongue. Josh Tongue had opening batsman Ben McKinney caught behind just after the break.

Though Stokes took the wickets, Archer caught the eye. He was energetic with the fresh ball and again after lunch, when he discomforted Jacks.

In the absence of Bashir and with Wood leaving the field, Root was required to bowl 14 overs of his off-spin. It was mediocre fare, costing 117 runs at an run rate of over eight.

Root at least claimed a wicket in the closing stages when Fisher unexpectedly hit a full toss to mid-on before Archer bounced out Matthew Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.