Ben Stokes Secures 6 Scalps in England Ashes Preparation Match

Tour game, Perth venue (day one of 3)

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

National team: still to bat

Ben Stokes achieved six wickets in his first action since July but the tourists faced an fitness worry about Mark Wood on the first day of their Test preparation versus England Lions in Perth.

Stokes, making his comeback after approximately four months out with a shoulder injury, delivered 16 overs across three spells for his six for fifty-two versus England Lions – each to catches taken on the on-side.

Fast bowler Wood, himself returning after nine months away with a knee problem, bowled a pre-planned number of eight overs before leaving the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring problem. He will have a scan on Friday.

Wood's injury drained the intensity out of the day, as the England Lions were bowled out for three hundred eighty-two on a slow, low surface after an uncontested toss at Lilac Hill.

The tourists aimed to field first to build bowling fitness before the first Ashes Test at the main venue, starting on 21 November.

In a possible hint towards their first-Test plans, the visiting team fielded an all-pace attack – four specialists plus the captain – and omitted off-spinner Bashir in the development squad.

Jacob Bethell didn't strengthen his claim for inclusion in the Test side, making just two runs, but Jacks boosted his credentials to be called upon during the series by hitting 84.

McKinney, Jordan Cox, 17-year-old Thomas Rew and Matthew Potts also scored fifties.

England's plan to play a single practice match against the Lions has been questioned by some ex-players but the captain responded by labeling the doubters "former players".

A low-pressure opening day in front of a smattering of fans at Lilac Hill was certainly a world away from what the team will face at a sold-out main stadium the following week.

Stokes was excellent in the series against India in the home summer, only to strain himself to breaking point. He missed the final Test with a torn shoulder.

The captain has not completed a complete participation in any of the team's past four tours because of various injuries and the tourists' hopes of winning back the Ashes are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five matches in the host country.

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

Will Jacks is unlikely to play in the first Test – the team look to have revealed their intentions with the eleven named here. Nevertheless, he may have nudged himself ahead of the out-of-sorts Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

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

Brydon Carse missed the opening day because of sickness, with his place going to Tongue. Tongue had opening batsman McKinney edging to the keeper just after the break.

Though the captain took the scalps, Jofra Archer impressed observers. He was lively with the new ball and again after the interval, when he caused problems for Will Jacks.

In the omission of Shoaib Bashir and with Mark Wood leaving the field, Joe Root was required to deliver 14 overs of his spin bowling. It was average performance, costing 117 runs at an economy of more than eight.

Joe Root at least took a scalp in the final session when Matt Fisher unexpectedly struck a full delivery to mid-on before Archer bounced out Matthew Potts for fifty-three with the last delivery of the day.