Ben Stokes Claims Six Wickets in England Test Series Preparation Match

Tour game, Lilac Hill (day one of three)

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

England XI: still to bat

Ben Stokes achieved 6 scalps in his initial appearance since July but England faced an injury concern about Mark Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up against England Lions in Western Australia.

The England captain, returning after almost four months away with a shoulder problem, delivered sixteen overs across three spells for his 6-52 against the Lions – each to catches on the leg side.

Pace bowler Wood, himself returning after 9 months away with a knee problem, bowled a pre-planned number of eight overs before departing the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring issue. He will have a scan on Friday.

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

The tourists wanted to field first to get overs in their legs before the initial Test match at the main venue, beginning on 21 November.

In a possible hint towards their opening Test strategy, the visiting team selected an all-pace attack – four specialist bowlers plus the captain – and omitted off-spinner Bashir in the development squad.

Jacob Bethell didn't strengthen his case for selection in the Test side, making only two, but Will Jacks enhanced his claim to be called upon during the series by hitting 84.

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

The team's plan to play a single practice match against the development squad has been questioned by some ex-players but the captain responded by calling the doubters "past players".

A low-pressure opening day in front of a small crowd of fans at the ground was definitely a different experience from what the team will encounter at a packed main stadium the following week.

The captain was excellent in the contest against the Indian team in the domestic season, only to push himself to breaking point. He missed the last match with a torn shoulder.

The captain has not completed a complete participation in any of the team's previous four series because of different fitness issues and the team's 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 good condition on Wednesday, 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 – the team look to have revealed their intentions with the XI selected here. Nevertheless, he may have nudged himself ahead 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 fast bowlers in the team lineup for this game may not have been the attack for the initial match.

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

Although the captain took the wickets, Jofra Archer caught the eye. He was energetic with the new ball and again after the interval, when he caused problems for Jacks.

In the omission of Shoaib Bashir and with Wood departing, Root was asked to deliver fourteen overs of his off-spin. It was average performance, costing 117 at an run rate of more than eight.

Joe Root at least claimed a wicket in the closing stages when Matt Fisher unexpectedly struck a full toss to the fielder before Jofra Archer dismissed with a bouncer Matthew Potts for 53 with the final ball of the day.