Ben Stokes Claims Six Scalps in English Test Series Warm-up

Tour match, Lilac Hill (first day of three)

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

National team: awaiting batting

The England captain achieved 6 scalps in his return to play since July but England encountered an injury concern about Mark Wood on the opening day of their Test preparation against England Lions in Perth.

The England captain, making his comeback after nearly four months away with a shoulder injury, bowled 16 overs across three spells for his six for fifty-two versus England Lions – all to catches taken on the on-side.

Pace bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after nine months away with a knee injury, delivered a scheduled amount of eight overs before departing the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring issue. He will undergo scanning on the following day.

Wood's injury removed the intensity out of the day, as the England Lions were dismissed for 382 on a slow, low surface after an uncontested toss at the venue.

The tourists wanted to bowl first to accumulate bowling time before the initial Test match at Optus Stadium, beginning on 21 November.

In a possible hint towards their opening Test strategy, the tourists selected an all-pace attack – four specialists plus the captain – and omitted spin bowler Bashir in the development squad.

Bethell failed to press his case for selection in the Test team, making just two runs, but Will Jacks enhanced his credentials to be selected later in the tour by hitting eighty-four.

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

The team's decision to play a solitary practice match against the Lions has been questioned by some former players but the captain hit back by labeling the doubters "former players".

A low-pressure first day in front of a smattering 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 the Indian team in the home summer, only to push himself to breaking point. He missed the last match with a torn shoulder.

The skipper 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 Ashes are vastly diminished if he is absent from any of the five Tests in Australia.

He has been bowling at full pace for 60 days and appeared in good condition on Wednesday, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his dismissals were presented.

Jacks is not expected to feature in the first Test – England look to have revealed their intentions with the XI 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.

Prior to the concern over Mark Wood, the five fast bowlers in the team lineup for this game may not have been the bowling unit for the first Test.

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

Although Stokes took the scalps, Jofra Archer impressed observers. He was lively with the new ball and once more after the interval, 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 off-spin. It was average performance, costing 117 runs at an economy of more than eight.

Root at least claimed a scalp in the closing stages when Matt Fisher unexpectedly hit a full delivery to mid-on before Jofra Archer dismissed with a bouncer Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.