Ben Stokes Secures Six Scalps in English Ashes Warm-up

Practice game, Lilac Hill (day one of 3)

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

National team: awaiting batting

The England captain produced 6 scalps in his return to play since July but the tourists faced an fitness worry involving fast bowler Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up versus the development squad in Perth.

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

Fast bowler Mark Wood, also making his comeback after 9 months out with a knee problem, delivered a scheduled amount of 8 overs before departing the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring problem. He will receive scanning on the following day.

The Wood situation removed the intensity out of the day, as the England Lions were bowled out for 382 on a slow, low surface after an uncontested toss at the venue.

The tourists aimed to field first to accumulate bowling time before the first Ashes Test at the main venue, beginning on 21 November.

In a potential indication towards their first-Test plans, the visiting team selected an all-pace attack – four specialists plus the captain – and omitted spin bowler Bashir in the development squad.

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

McKinney, Cox, 17-year-old Rew and Potts also made fifties.

England's decision to play a single practice match against the development squad has been questioned by some ex-players but Stokes responded by calling the doubters "past players".

A relaxed first day in front of a small crowd of fans at the ground was certainly a world away from what the team will encounter at a packed Optus Stadium next week.

The captain was excellent in the series against India in the domestic season, only to push himself to injury. He missed the final Test with a torn shoulder.

The captain has not managed 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 Ashes are significantly reduced if he is absent from any of the five Tests in Australia.

He has been bowling at full pace for 60 days 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 not expected to play in the opening match – the team look to have shown their intentions with the eleven named here. Nevertheless, he may have moved himself ahead of the struggling Jacob 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 was absent from the first day because of illness, with his position going to Josh Tongue. Tongue had opening batsman McKinney edging to the keeper just after lunch.

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

In the omission of Shoaib Bashir and with Mark Wood departing, Root was required to deliver 14 overs of his off-spin. It was average performance, costing 117 at an run rate of over eight.

Root at least took a wicket in the final session when Fisher somehow hit a full delivery to mid-on before Jofra Archer dismissed with a bouncer Matthew Potts for 53 with the final ball of the day.