Ben Stokes Secures 6 Scalps in English Ashes Warm-up

Tour match, Lilac Hill (day one of three)

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

National team: yet to bat

The England captain achieved six wickets in his first action since July but the tourists encountered an fitness worry about Mark Wood on the first day of their Test preparation versus the development squad in Perth.

The England captain, making his comeback after nearly four months away with a shoulder injury, bowled 16 overs across three bowling spells for his six for fifty-two versus England Lions – each to catches on the leg side.

Pace bowler Mark Wood, also making his comeback after 9 months away with a knee injury, bowled a scheduled amount of 8 overs before exiting the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring problem. He will receive scanning on the following day.

Wood's injury removed the intensity out of the day, as the England Lions were dismissed for three hundred eighty-two on a sluggish pitch after an uncontested toss at the venue.

England aimed to bowl first to get overs in their legs before the first Ashes Test at Optus Stadium, beginning on November 21st.

In a possible hint towards their first-Test plans, the tourists fielded an all-pace attack – four specialists plus Stokes – and omitted spin bowler Bashir in the Lions.

Bethell failed to press his claim for selection in the Test side, making only two, but Will Jacks boosted his claim to be selected later in the tour by swiping eighty-four.

Ben McKinney, Cox, teenage Rew and Matthew Potts also made fifties.

The team's decision to play a solitary practice match against the Lions has been criticized 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 world away from what England will encounter at a sold-out Optus Stadium next week.

The captain was superb in the contest against the Indian team in the home summer, only to push himself to breaking point. He was absent from the final Test with a shoulder tear.

The skipper has not completed a full part in any of the team's past four series because of different fitness issues and the team's chances of winning back the series are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five Tests in Australia.

He has been practicing at maximum speed for two months and appeared in good condition on the match day, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his dismissals were presented.

Will Jacks is unlikely to play in the first Test – England look to have revealed their intentions with the eleven selected here. Still, he may have moved himself in front of the struggling Jacob Bethell with his 84, which came at almost a run a ball.

Prior to the concern over Wood, the five fast bowlers in the England XI for this match may not have been the attack for the first Test.

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

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

In the absence of Shoaib Bashir and with Wood departing, Root was asked to deliver fourteen overs of his spin bowling. It was average performance, costing 117 at an run rate of over eight.

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