Ben Stokes Claims 6 Scalps in English Ashes Preparation Match

Tour game, Lilac Hill (day one of 3)

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

National team: awaiting batting

The England captain delivered six wickets in his first action following July but England encountered an injury concern regarding Mark Wood on the first day of their Test preparation versus England Lions in Western Australia.

The England captain, returning after approximately four months out with a shoulder injury, delivered 16 overs across three spells for his six for fifty-two against the Lions – all to catches on the leg side.

Pace bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after nine months away with a knee problem, bowled a scheduled amount of 8 overs before departing the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring problem. He will receive scanning on the following day.

Wood's injury sucked the energy out of the day, as the Lions were dismissed for 382 on a slow track after an automatic toss at Lilac Hill.

England wanted to bowl first to accumulate bowling time before the first Ashes Test at the main venue, starting on 21 November.

In a potential indication towards their opening Test strategy, the tourists fielded 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 inclusion in the Test side, making just two runs, but Will Jacks enhanced his claim to be selected during the series by scoring eighty-four.

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

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

A low-pressure first day in front of a small crowd of spectators at Lilac Hill was certainly a different experience from what England will face at a sold-out Optus Stadium next week.

The captain was superb in the contest against the Indian team in the domestic season, only to strain himself to breaking point. He was absent from the final Test with a torn shoulder.

The skipper has not managed a complete participation in any of England's previous four tours because of various injuries and the tourists' chances of regaining the series are significantly reduced if he is absent from any of the five matches in Australia.

He has been practicing at maximum speed for two months and appeared in fine shape on Wednesday, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his dismissals were gifted.

Jacks is not expected to feature in the opening match – the team look to have revealed their hand with the eleven named here. Still, he may have nudged himself ahead of the struggling Bethell with his 84, which came at almost a run a ball.

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

Carse missed the opening day because of illness, with his place going to Tongue. Tongue had opening batsman McKinney caught behind just after the break.

Though the captain took the scalps, Jofra 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 omission of Shoaib Bashir and with Wood leaving the field, Root was asked to deliver fourteen overs of his spin bowling. It was average performance, costing 117 runs at an run rate of more than eight.

Joe Root at least claimed a scalp in the closing stages when Fisher somehow struck a full toss to the fielder before Archer bounced out Potts for fifty-three with the final ball of the day.