Ben Stokes Claims Six Wickets in English Test Series Preparation Match

Tour game, Lilac Hill (first day of three)

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

National team: still to bat

Ben Stokes delivered 6 scalps in his first action since July but the tourists faced an fitness worry involving Mark Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up versus the development squad in Perth.

The England captain, returning after almost four months away with a shoulder problem, delivered 16 overs across three bowling spells for his six for fifty-two versus England Lions – each to catches on the leg side.

Pace bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after nine months out with a knee problem, delivered a pre-planned number of 8 overs before leaving the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring issue. He will undergo scanning on Friday.

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

England wanted to bowl first to build bowling fitness before the initial Test match at the main venue, beginning on 21 November.

In a potential indication towards their first-Test plans, the tourists fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialist bowlers plus the captain – and left off-spinner Bashir in the development squad.

Bethell failed to press his claim for selection in the Test team, making only two, but Will Jacks boosted his claim to be selected during the series by scoring eighty-four.

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

The team's plan to play a single warm-up game against the Lions has been criticized by some ex-players but Stokes hit back by calling the critics "past players".

A low-pressure opening day in front of a small crowd of spectators at the ground was definitely a different experience from what the team will encounter at a packed Optus Stadium next week.

Stokes was superb in the series against India in the home summer, only to push himself to injury. He was absent from the final Test with a shoulder tear.

The skipper has not managed a complete participation in any of England's previous four series because of different fitness issues and the team's chances of winning back the Ashes are vastly diminished if he is absent from any of the five matches in the host country.

He has been bowling at full pace for two months and appeared in good condition on the match day, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his dismissals were gifted.

Jacks is not expected to feature in the first Test – England look to have revealed their intentions with the XI named here. Still, he may have moved himself ahead 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 seamers in the England XI for this match may not have been the bowling unit for the first Test.

Carse was absent from the first day because of illness, with his position going to Josh Tongue. Josh Tongue had opening batsman McKinney caught behind just after lunch.

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 Bashir and with Wood leaving the field, Root was required to deliver 14 overs of his spin bowling. It was average performance, conceding 117 runs at an run rate of more than eight.

Joe Root at least took a scalp in the closing stages when Matt Fisher somehow struck a full toss to the fielder before Jofra Archer bounced out Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.