Ben Stokes Secures Six Wickets in England Test Series Preparation Match

Practice game, Lilac Hill (day one of 3)

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

National team: still to bat

Ben Stokes delivered six wickets in his initial appearance since July but England encountered an fitness worry involving Mark Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up versus the development squad in Perth.

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

Pace bowler Wood, also making his comeback after nine months away with a knee injury, bowled a pre-planned number of 8 overs before exiting the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring problem. He will have a scan on the following day.

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

England aimed to bowl first to accumulate bowling time before the initial Test match at the main venue, beginning on November 21st.

In a possible hint towards their first-Test plans, the tourists fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialist bowlers plus Stokes – and left spin bowler Bashir in the development squad.

Jacob Bethell didn't strengthen his claim for inclusion in the Test team, making only two, but Will Jacks enhanced his credentials to be called upon during the series by swiping eighty-four.

McKinney, Jordan Cox, teenage Thomas Rew and Potts also made half-centuries.

England's decision to play a solitary practice match against the Lions has been criticized by some former players but Stokes hit back by calling the doubters "has-beens".

A low-pressure opening day in front of a small crowd of fans at Lilac Hill was certainly a world away from what England will face at a sold-out main stadium the following week.

Stokes was superb in the contest against India in the domestic season, only to strain himself to breaking point. He was absent from the final Test with a torn shoulder.

The captain has not managed a full part in any of the team's past four series because of different fitness issues and the tourists' hopes of regaining the series are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five Tests in the host country.

He has been bowling at full pace for 60 days and appeared in fine shape on Wednesday, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his dismissals were presented.

Jacks is not expected to play in the opening match – England look to have revealed their intentions with the eleven selected here. Still, 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 doubt over 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 place going to Josh Tongue. Tongue had opening batsman Ben McKinney caught behind just after the break.

Although Stokes took the scalps, Jofra Archer caught the eye. He was lively with the new ball and once more after lunch, when he caused problems for Jacks.

In the omission of Shoaib Bashir and with Wood leaving the field, Root was required to deliver 14 overs of his off-spin. It was mediocre fare, costing 117 runs at an economy of more than eight.

Joe Root at least claimed a wicket in the closing stages when Fisher somehow hit a full delivery to mid-on before Jofra Archer dismissed with a bouncer Potts for fifty-three with the final ball of the day.