Ben Stokes Takes Six Wickets in England Test Series Warm-up

Tour game, Lilac Hill (first day of three)

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

England XI: yet to bat

The England captain produced six wickets in his first action since July but England encountered an fitness worry involving fast bowler Wood on the first day of their Test preparation against England Lions in Western Australia.

Stokes, returning after approximately four months away with a shoulder problem, bowled sixteen overs across three spells for his 6-52 versus England Lions – each to catches taken on the leg side.

Pace bowler Wood, also making his comeback after 9 months out with a knee injury, bowled a pre-planned number of 8 overs before leaving 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 bowled out for 382 on a slow track after an automatic toss at Lilac Hill.

England aimed to field first to get overs in their legs 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 selected an fast bowling lineup – four specialist bowlers plus the captain – and omitted spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in the development squad.

Jacob Bethell didn't strengthen his case for selection in the Test side, making just two runs, but Jacks boosted his claim to be called upon later in the tour by hitting 84.

Ben McKinney, Jordan Cox, teenage Thomas Rew and Matthew Potts also scored half-centuries.

England's plan to play a solitary practice match against the development squad has been questioned by some former players but Stokes hit back by labeling the doubters "past players".

A relaxed first day in front of a small crowd of spectators at Lilac Hill was definitely a different experience from what England will face at a sold-out Optus Stadium next week.

Stokes was excellent in the contest against India in the home summer, only to push himself to breaking point. He was absent from the final Test with a torn shoulder.

The captain has not completed a complete participation in any of England's past four tours because of different fitness issues and the tourists' hopes of winning back the Ashes are vastly diminished if he misses any of the five matches in Australia.

He has been practicing at full pace for two months and looked in fine shape on Wednesday, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his dismissals were presented.

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

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

Brydon Carse missed the opening day because of illness, with his position going to Tongue. Josh Tongue had Lions opener Ben McKinney caught behind just after the break.

Though Stokes took the wickets, Archer impressed observers. He was lively with the fresh ball and again after the interval, when he discomforted Jacks.

In the absence of Shoaib Bashir and with Mark Wood departing, Joe Root was asked to deliver fourteen overs of his off-spin. It was average performance, costing 117 runs at an economy of over eight.

Joe Root at least claimed a scalp in the closing stages when Fisher somehow hit a full delivery to mid-on before Jofra Archer dismissed with a bouncer Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.