Ben Stokes Takes 6 Scalps in England Ashes Warm-up

Tour match, Lilac Hill (first day of three)

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

England XI: still to bat

Ben Stokes produced 6 scalps in his return to play after July but the tourists faced an fitness worry involving fast bowler Wood on the opening day of their Test preparation versus England Lions in Perth.

The England captain, making his comeback after approximately four months away with a shoulder problem, bowled 16 overs across three spells for his 6-52 versus the Lions – each to catches on the leg side.

Fast bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after nine months away with a knee injury, bowled a pre-planned number of 8 overs before leaving the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring issue. He will undergo scanning on Friday.

The Wood situation drained the energy out of the day, as the England Lions were bowled out for 382 on a sluggish pitch after an automatic toss at the venue.

England wanted to field first to accumulate bowling time before the first Ashes Test at Optus Stadium, starting on 21 November.

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

Bethell didn't strengthen his claim for inclusion in the Test team, making just two runs, but Jacks enhanced his claim to be called upon during the series by swiping eighty-four.

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

England's decision to play a single warm-up game against the development squad has been questioned by some ex-players but Stokes hit back by calling the critics "has-beens".

A relaxed first day in front of a smattering of fans at the ground was definitely a world away from what the team will face at a packed main stadium the following week.

Stokes was excellent in the contest against the Indian team in the domestic season, only to push himself to breaking point. He was absent from the final Test with a torn shoulder.

The captain has not completed a full part in any of the team's past four tours because of different fitness issues and the team's chances of regaining the series are vastly diminished if he misses 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 dismissals were presented.

Jacks is unlikely to feature in the opening match – the team look to have shown their intentions with the eleven selected here. Nevertheless, he may have nudged himself ahead of the struggling Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at almost a run a ball.

Even before the concern over Wood, the five fast bowlers in the team lineup for this match may not have been the attack for the first Test.

Brydon Carse missed the first day because of illness, with his place going to Josh Tongue. Tongue had opening batsman Ben McKinney caught behind just after lunch.

Though Stokes took the wickets, Jofra Archer caught the eye. He was lively with the fresh ball and again after lunch, when he discomforted Will Jacks.

In the omission of Bashir and with Mark Wood leaving the field, Joe Root was asked to deliver fourteen overs of his off-spin. It was mediocre fare, costing 117 runs at an economy of more than eight.

Root at least claimed a scalp in the final session when Matt Fisher somehow struck a full delivery to the fielder before Archer bounced out Matthew Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.