Ben Stokes Claims 6 Scalps in English Ashes Warm-up

Practice match, Perth venue (first day of three)

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

England XI: awaiting batting

Ben Stokes delivered six wickets in his return to play since July but the tourists faced an fitness worry regarding fast bowler Wood on the first day of their Test preparation against the development squad in Perth.

Stokes, returning after nearly four months out with a shoulder injury, delivered sixteen overs across three spells for his 6-52 against England Lions – each to catches taken on the leg side.

Fast bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after 9 months out with a knee problem, bowled a pre-planned number of 8 overs before departing the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring problem. He will undergo scanning on Friday.

The Wood situation removed the intensity out of the day, as the England Lions were dismissed for 382 on a slow track after an uncontested toss at the venue.

The tourists 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 specialists plus the captain – and left spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in the development squad.

Bethell failed to press his claim for inclusion in the Test side, making only two, but Jacks enhanced his credentials to be called upon later in the tour by hitting 84.

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

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

A low-pressure opening day in front of a small crowd of fans at Lilac Hill was certainly a different experience from what the team will encounter at a sold-out Optus Stadium next week.

Stokes was excellent in the contest against India in the home summer, 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 England's past 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 fine shape on the match day, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his wickets were gifted.

Jacks is not expected to feature in the first Test – England look to have shown their intentions with the eleven named here. Nevertheless, he may have moved himself ahead of the out-of-sorts Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

Prior to the concern over Wood, the five seamers in the England XI for this match may not have been the attack for the first Test.

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

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

In the absence of Shoaib Bashir and with Mark Wood departing, Root was asked to bowl 14 overs of his spin bowling. It was mediocre fare, costing 117 runs at an economy of more than eight.

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