Stokes Claims 6 Wickets in English Ashes Warm-up

Tour game, Lilac Hill (first day of three)

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

England XI: still to bat

Ben Stokes achieved 6 scalps in his return to play following July but the tourists encountered an fitness worry regarding fast bowler Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up against England Lions in Perth.

Stokes, returning after approximately four months away with a shoulder problem, delivered 16 overs across three spells for his six for fifty-two against England Lions – each to catches on the on-side.

Pace bowler Wood, himself returning after nine months away with a knee problem, bowled a pre-planned number of eight overs before exiting the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring problem. He will receive scanning on Friday.

The Wood situation drained the intensity out of the day, as the England Lions were bowled out for 382 on a sluggish pitch after an uncontested toss at the venue.

The tourists aimed to field first to get overs in their legs before the first Ashes Test at Optus Stadium, beginning on 21 November.

In a potential indication towards their first-Test plans, the visiting team selected an all-pace attack – four specialists plus the captain – and omitted off-spinner Bashir in the development squad.

Jacob Bethell failed to press his claim for selection in the Test side, making only two, but Will Jacks enhanced his claim to be selected during the series by swiping eighty-four.

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

The team's plan to play a solitary warm-up game against the development squad has been criticized by some ex-players but Stokes responded by calling the critics "has-beens".

A low-pressure opening day in front of a smattering of fans at Lilac Hill was definitely a different experience from what the team will face at a packed main stadium the following week.

The captain was excellent in the series against the Indian team in the domestic season, only to push 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' chances of winning back the series are vastly diminished if he misses any of the five Tests in the host country.

He has been practicing at maximum speed for 60 days and appeared in good condition on the match day, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his wickets were presented.

Jacks is unlikely to play in the first Test – England look to have revealed their intentions with the eleven named here. Nevertheless, he may have moved himself in front of the struggling Jacob Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

Even before the doubt over Mark Wood, the five seamers in the England XI for this game may not have been the bowling unit for the first Test.

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

Though Stokes took the wickets, Archer impressed observers. He was energetic with the new ball and once more after the interval, when he discomforted Will Jacks.

In the omission of Shoaib Bashir and with Wood leaving the field, Root was asked to bowl fourteen overs of his off-spin. It was mediocre fare, conceding 117 at an run rate of more than eight.

Joe Root at least took a scalp in the final session when Fisher unexpectedly struck a full toss to the fielder before Jofra Archer bounced out Potts for 53 with the final ball of the day.