Stokes Secures Six Wickets in English Ashes Preparation Match

Practice game, Perth venue (day one of three)

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

National team: awaiting batting

The England captain achieved six wickets in his first action since July but England faced an injury concern involving fast bowler Wood on the opening day of their Test preparation against the development squad in Western Australia.

The England captain, making his comeback after almost four months out with a shoulder problem, delivered sixteen overs across three spells for his 6-52 versus the Lions – each to catches on the on-side.

Pace bowler Wood, himself returning after 9 months out with a knee problem, bowled a pre-planned number of eight overs before leaving the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring problem. He will receive scanning on the following day.

The Wood situation sucked the energy out of the day, as the England Lions were bowled out for 382 on a slow, low surface after an uncontested toss at Lilac Hill.

The tourists wanted to field first to build bowling fitness before the first Ashes Test at Optus Stadium, beginning on 21 November.

In a possible hint towards their opening Test strategy, the visiting team selected an all-pace attack – four specialist bowlers plus the captain – and left off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in the development squad.

Jacob Bethell didn't strengthen his case for inclusion in the Test team, making only two, but Jacks enhanced his claim to be called upon during the series by hitting 84.

McKinney, Cox, 17-year-old Rew and Potts also scored half-centuries.

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

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

Stokes was superb in the series against the Indian team in the domestic season, only to strain himself to breaking point. He was absent from the last match with a shoulder tear.

The skipper has not managed a full part in any of the team's past four tours because of different fitness issues and the tourists' chances of regaining the Ashes are vastly diminished if he is absent from any of the five matches in Australia.

He has been bowling at full pace for two months and looked in good condition on Wednesday, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his wickets were gifted.

Jacks is unlikely to feature in the first Test – the team look to have revealed their intentions with the XI selected here. Still, he may have moved himself ahead of the out-of-sorts Jacob Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

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

Brydon Carse was absent from the first day because of illness, with his place going to Tongue. Tongue had opening batsman McKinney caught behind just after the break.

Though Stokes took the wickets, Archer impressed observers. He was energetic with the fresh ball and once more after lunch, when he discomforted Jacks.

In the omission of Bashir and with Wood leaving the field, Joe Root was required to deliver fourteen overs of his spin bowling. It was mediocre fare, costing 117 at an run rate of more than eight.

Joe Root at least took a wicket in the final session when Fisher somehow hit a full toss to mid-on before Jofra Archer bounced out Potts for 53 with the final ball of the day.