Ben Stokes Takes 6 Scalps in England Ashes Warm-up

Practice match, Lilac Hill (day one of three)

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

England XI: yet to bat

The England captain delivered 6 scalps in his initial appearance following July but the tourists faced an injury concern about Mark Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up against England Lions in Perth.

The England captain, returning after approximately four months out with a shoulder injury, delivered 16 overs across three spells for his six for fifty-two against the Lions – all to catches taken on the leg side.

Fast bowler Wood, also making his comeback after 9 months out with a knee injury, bowled a pre-planned number of 8 overs before departing the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring problem. He will receive scanning on Friday.

Wood's injury drained the energy out of the day, as the Lions were bowled out for three hundred eighty-two on a slow, low surface after an uncontested toss at Lilac Hill.

England wanted to bowl first to get overs in their legs before the initial Test match at Optus Stadium, beginning on 21 November.

In a possible hint towards their opening Test strategy, the visiting team selected an fast bowling lineup – four specialist bowlers plus the captain – and omitted off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in the Lions.

Bethell failed to press his case for selection in the Test side, making just two runs, but Jacks boosted his claim to be selected during the series by scoring eighty-four.

McKinney, Cox, teenage Thomas Rew and Potts also made half-centuries.

England's decision to play a single warm-up game against the development squad has been questioned by some former players but the captain responded by labeling the doubters "has-beens".

A relaxed first day in front of a smattering of fans at Lilac Hill was definitely a different experience from what England will encounter at a sold-out main stadium the following week.

The captain was excellent in the series against the Indian team in the domestic season, only to strain himself to injury. He missed the final Test with a shoulder tear.

The captain has not completed a complete participation in any of the team's previous four series because of different fitness issues and the tourists' hopes 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 fine shape on Wednesday, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his dismissals were gifted.

Jacks is not expected to feature in the first Test – England look to have revealed their intentions with the XI selected here. Nevertheless, he may have nudged himself ahead of the out-of-sorts Bethell with his 84, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

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

Carse was absent from the opening day because of illness, with his position going to Josh Tongue. Tongue had opening batsman McKinney edging to the keeper just after the break.

Although the captain took the scalps, Archer caught the eye. He was energetic with the fresh ball and again after the interval, when he discomforted Will Jacks.

In the omission of Bashir and with Mark Wood departing, Joe Root was required to deliver 14 overs of his spin bowling. It was mediocre fare, costing 117 at an economy of more than eight.

Root at least took a scalp in the final session when Matt Fisher somehow hit a full toss to the fielder before Archer dismissed with a bouncer Potts for 53 with the final ball of the day.