Stokes Claims 6 Scalps in English Ashes Preparation Match

Practice game, Perth venue (day one of 3)

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

National team: yet to bat

The England captain produced six wickets in his return to play since July but the tourists encountered an injury concern regarding fast bowler Wood on the opening day of their Test preparation versus England Lions in Western Australia.

The England captain, returning after nearly four months out with a shoulder injury, bowled 16 overs across three bowling spells for his 6-52 versus England Lions – each to catches on the on-side.

Fast bowler Wood, also making his comeback after 9 months out with a knee injury, delivered a pre-planned number of eight overs before departing the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring issue. He will have a scan on Friday.

Wood's injury 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 Lilac Hill.

The tourists aimed to field first to get overs in their legs before the initial Test match at the main venue, beginning on 21 November.

In a potential indication towards their opening Test strategy, the visiting team fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialist bowlers plus the captain – and omitted off-spinner Bashir in the development squad.

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

Ben McKinney, Jordan Cox, 17-year-old Rew and Potts also scored half-centuries.

The team'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 critics "past players".

A low-pressure first day in front of a smattering of spectators at the ground was certainly a different experience from what the team will face at a packed Optus Stadium the following week.

The captain was excellent in the contest against the Indian team in the domestic season, only to push himself to injury. He missed the final Test with a torn shoulder.

The skipper has not completed a full part in any of the team's previous four series because of various injuries and the tourists' hopes of winning back the Ashes are significantly reduced if he is absent from 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 the match day, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his dismissals were presented.

Jacks is not expected to play in the first Test – England look to have shown their hand with the eleven named here. Nevertheless, he may have moved himself in front of the out-of-sorts Bethell with his 84, which came at almost a run a ball.

Even before the concern over Mark Wood, the five seamers in the team lineup for this match may not have been the bowling unit for the first Test.

Brydon Carse missed the opening day because of sickness, with his position going to Josh Tongue. Josh Tongue had Lions opener Ben McKinney caught behind just after lunch.

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

In the omission of Bashir and with Wood departing, Joe Root was required to bowl fourteen overs of his off-spin. It was average performance, conceding 117 at an run rate of over eight.

Root at least claimed a scalp in the closing stages when Matt Fisher somehow hit a full delivery to the fielder before Jofra Archer dismissed with a bouncer Potts for 53 with the final ball of the day.