Ben Stokes Takes 6 Wickets in England Test Series Preparation Match

Tour game, Perth venue (day one of 3)

England Lions 382: Will Jacks 84, Ben McKinney 67; Stokes 6-52

National team: awaiting batting

The England captain delivered 6 scalps in his initial appearance following July but England faced an fitness worry involving Mark Wood on the first day of their Test preparation against England Lions in Perth.

The England captain, making his comeback after approximately four months out with a shoulder problem, bowled sixteen overs across three spells for his 6-52 against the Lions – each to catches on the leg side.

Fast bowler 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.

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

England aimed to bowl first to build bowling fitness before the first Ashes Test at the main venue, 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 left spin bowler Bashir in the development squad.

Jacob Bethell failed to press his claim for inclusion in the Test team, making just two runs, but Jacks boosted his claim to be called upon later in the tour by scoring 84.

Ben McKinney, Cox, teenage Thomas Rew and Potts also made half-centuries.

England's decision to play a solitary practice match against the development squad has been criticized by some former players but Stokes responded by calling the critics "past players".

A relaxed first day in front of a small crowd of spectators at Lilac Hill was certainly a different experience from what the team will face at a sold-out Optus Stadium the following week.

Stokes was excellent in the series against the Indian team in the home summer, only to push himself to breaking point. He was absent from the last match with a torn shoulder.

The captain has not managed a complete participation in any of England's previous four tours because of different fitness issues and the tourists' chances of winning back the Ashes are significantly reduced if he is absent from any of the five matches in the host country.

He has been bowling at maximum speed for 60 days and looked in good condition on the match day, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his wickets were gifted.

Will Jacks is unlikely to feature in the opening match – England look to have revealed their hand with the eleven selected here. Still, 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 doubt over Mark Wood, the five seamers in the team lineup for this game may not have been the attack for the first Test.

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

Although the captain took the scalps, Archer caught the eye. He was lively with the fresh ball and once more after lunch, when he discomforted Will Jacks.

In the omission of Shoaib Bashir and with Mark Wood leaving the field, Root was asked to deliver 14 overs of his off-spin. It was average performance, costing 117 at an run rate of over eight.

Root at least took a wicket in the closing stages when Fisher somehow hit a full toss to mid-on before Archer bounced out Potts for 53 with the final ball of the day.