Stokes Secures 6 Scalps in English Ashes Warm-up

Tour match, Perth venue (day one of 3)

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

National team: yet to bat

Ben Stokes delivered six wickets in his first action since July but England faced an fitness worry involving fast bowler Wood on the opening day of their Test preparation versus England Lions in Western Australia.

The England captain, returning after approximately four months away with a shoulder problem, delivered sixteen overs across three spells for his 6-52 versus England Lions – all to catches on the leg side.

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

The Wood situation drained the energy out of the day, as the England Lions were dismissed for three hundred eighty-two on a sluggish pitch after an uncontested toss at Lilac Hill.

England aimed to field first to accumulate bowling time 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 selected an all-pace attack – four specialist bowlers plus the captain – and left spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in the Lions.

Jacob Bethell didn't strengthen his case for inclusion in the Test team, making only two, but Jacks boosted his credentials to be called upon during the series by scoring 84.

McKinney, Cox, teenage Rew and Matthew Potts also scored half-centuries.

England's decision to play a single warm-up game against the development squad has been questioned by some former players but the captain hit back by calling the doubters "former players".

A relaxed opening day in front of a smattering of spectators at the ground was certainly a different experience from what England will encounter at a packed Optus Stadium the following week.

The captain was superb in the contest against India in the domestic season, only to push himself to injury. He was absent from the final Test with a torn shoulder.

The skipper has not completed a complete participation in any of England's previous four tours because of different fitness issues and the team's hopes of winning back the Ashes are significantly reduced if he is absent from any of the five matches in Australia.

He has been practicing at full pace for two months and looked in fine shape on the match day, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his dismissals were presented.

Jacks is unlikely to feature in the first Test – the team look to have revealed their intentions with the XI selected here. Nevertheless, he may have moved himself in front of the struggling Bethell with his 84, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

Prior to the concern over Wood, the five seamers in the team lineup for this game may not have been the attack for the initial match.

Carse was absent from the first day because of illness, with his position going to Tongue. Tongue had Lions opener Ben McKinney edging to the keeper just after the break.

Though Stokes took the wickets, Jofra Archer impressed observers. He was energetic with the fresh ball and once more after lunch, when he discomforted Jacks.

In the omission of Shoaib Bashir and with Wood departing, Joe Root was asked to bowl 14 overs of his off-spin. It was mediocre fare, costing 117 runs at an economy of over eight.

Joe Root at least took a wicket in the closing stages when Matt Fisher unexpectedly hit a full delivery to the fielder before Jofra Archer dismissed with a bouncer Matthew Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.