Ben Stokes Takes Six Scalps in England Ashes Preparation Match

Tour game, Lilac Hill (day one of three)

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

National team: yet to bat

Ben Stokes achieved 6 scalps in his initial appearance after July but England encountered an injury concern about Mark Wood on the opening day of their Test preparation versus England Lions in Perth.

The England captain, returning after approximately four months out with a shoulder injury, bowled 16 overs across three spells for his 6-52 against England Lions – each to catches on the on-side.

Pace bowler Wood, also making his comeback after 9 months away with a knee problem, bowled a scheduled amount of eight overs before leaving the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring issue. He will have a scan on Friday.

Wood's injury removed the intensity out of the day, as the England Lions were dismissed for 382 on a sluggish pitch after an uncontested toss at Lilac Hill.

The tourists wanted to bowl first to accumulate bowling time before the first Ashes Test at Optus Stadium, beginning on 21 November.

In a potential indication towards their opening Test strategy, the tourists fielded an all-pace attack – four specialist bowlers plus Stokes – and omitted off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in the Lions.

Bethell failed to press his case for inclusion in the Test team, making just two runs, but Will Jacks enhanced his credentials to be called upon later in the tour by scoring eighty-four.

McKinney, Jordan Cox, teenage Thomas Rew and Potts also made fifties.

The team's plan to play a single practice match against the Lions has been criticized by some ex-players but Stokes hit back by calling the critics "former players".

A low-pressure opening day in front of a small crowd of spectators at Lilac Hill was definitely a different experience from what the team will face at a sold-out main stadium next week.

Stokes was excellent in the contest against the Indian team in the home summer, only to strain himself to injury. He missed the final Test with a shoulder tear.

The skipper has not completed a full part in any of England's previous four series because of different fitness issues and the tourists' chances of regaining the series are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five Tests in the host country.

He has been practicing at maximum speed for 60 days and looked in good condition on Wednesday, 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 – the team look to have revealed their hand with the XI named here. Nevertheless, he may have moved himself ahead of the struggling Bethell with his 84, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

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

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

Although the captain took the scalps, Archer impressed observers. He was energetic with the new ball and once more after the interval, when he discomforted Will Jacks.

In the omission of Shoaib Bashir and with Mark Wood departing, Joe Root was asked to deliver 14 overs of his spin bowling. It was mediocre fare, conceding 117 at an economy of over eight.

Joe Root at least claimed a scalp in the closing stages when Fisher unexpectedly hit a full toss to mid-on before Archer dismissed with a bouncer Matthew Potts for fifty-three with the final ball of the day.