Ben Stokes Claims 6 Scalps in England Ashes Warm-up

Practice game, Lilac Hill (first day of three)

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

England XI: still to bat

Ben Stokes achieved six wickets in his initial appearance after July but the tourists encountered an injury concern involving fast bowler Wood on the first day of their Test preparation against England Lions in Western Australia.

Stokes, making his comeback after approximately four months out with a shoulder problem, delivered sixteen overs across three spells for his six for fifty-two against England Lions – each to catches on the on-side.

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

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

The tourists aimed to field first to accumulate bowling time before the initial Test match at Optus Stadium, starting on 21 November.

In a possible hint towards their first-Test plans, the visiting team selected an fast bowling lineup – four specialist bowlers plus Stokes – and left spin bowler 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 selected later in the tour by hitting 84.

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

England's decision to play a single practice match against the development squad has been criticized by some ex-players but the captain hit back by calling 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 the team will face at a sold-out Optus Stadium next week.

Stokes was excellent in the series against the Indian team in the home summer, only to strain himself to injury. He was absent from the last match with a torn shoulder.

The skipper has not completed a full part in any of England's past four tours because of different fitness issues and the team's chances of winning back the series are vastly diminished if he is absent from any of the five matches in the host country.

He has been practicing at maximum speed for 60 days and looked in good condition on Wednesday, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his dismissals were presented.

Jacks is unlikely to play in the opening match – England look to have revealed their hand with the eleven named here. Nevertheless, he may have moved himself ahead of the out-of-sorts Jacob Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

Even before the concern over Wood, the five fast bowlers in the team lineup for this game may not have been the attack for the first Test.

Brydon Carse was absent from the opening day because of sickness, with his place going to Josh Tongue. Josh Tongue had Lions opener Ben McKinney caught behind just after the break.

Though the captain took the wickets, Jofra Archer impressed observers. He was lively with the new ball and once more after lunch, when he caused problems for Jacks.

In the absence of Shoaib Bashir and with Wood departing, Root was required to bowl 14 overs of his spin bowling. It was mediocre fare, conceding 117 runs at an run rate of more than eight.

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