Ben Stokes Claims 6 Scalps in England Ashes Warm-up

Practice match, Lilac Hill (day one of 3)

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

National team: awaiting batting

Ben Stokes delivered six wickets in his return to play after July but England faced an injury concern about Mark Wood on the opening day of their Test preparation versus England Lions in Perth.

Stokes, making his comeback after nearly four months out with a shoulder problem, bowled sixteen overs across three bowling spells for his six for fifty-two versus England Lions – each to catches taken on the leg side.

Fast bowler Wood, also making his comeback after 9 months away with a knee problem, bowled a pre-planned number of 8 overs before leaving the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring problem. He will have a scan on the following day.

Wood's injury sucked the energy out of the day, as the Lions were dismissed for three hundred eighty-two on a slow, low surface after an automatic toss at the venue.

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

In a potential indication towards their first-Test plans, the tourists fielded an all-pace attack – four specialists plus Stokes – and omitted spin bowler Bashir in the development squad.

Bethell didn't strengthen his claim for inclusion in the Test team, making just two runs, but Will Jacks enhanced his claim to be selected during the series by scoring eighty-four.

McKinney, Jordan Cox, 17-year-old Rew and Matthew Potts also made half-centuries.

England's decision to play a single practice match against the development squad has been questioned by some ex-players but the captain hit back by calling the doubters "past players".

A relaxed opening day in front of a small crowd of spectators at Lilac Hill was certainly a different experience from what England will encounter at a packed main stadium next week.

The captain was excellent in the contest against India in the home summer, only to strain himself to injury. He missed the final Test with a shoulder tear.

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

He has been practicing at full pace for two months 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 not expected to play in the first Test – the team look to have revealed their intentions with the eleven named here. Still, he may have moved himself ahead of the out-of-sorts Jacob Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at almost a run a ball.

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

Brydon Carse missed the first day because of illness, with his position going to Tongue. Tongue had opening batsman 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 again after lunch, when he discomforted Will Jacks.

In the absence of Shoaib Bashir and with Wood departing, Root was asked to deliver fourteen overs of his off-spin. It was average performance, conceding 117 runs at an run rate of more than eight.

Root at least claimed a wicket in the closing stages when Fisher somehow hit a full toss to the fielder before Jofra Archer bounced out Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.