Ben Stokes Takes Six Scalps in English Ashes Warm-up

Practice match, Perth venue (first day of three)

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

National team: awaiting batting

The England captain delivered 6 scalps in his return to play since July but England faced an injury concern regarding Mark Wood on the opening day of their Test preparation versus England Lions in Perth.

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

Fast bowler Mark Wood, also making his comeback after 9 months away 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 have a scan on Friday.

Wood's injury removed the energy out of the day, as the England Lions were dismissed for 382 on a slow, low surface after an automatic toss at the venue.

England aimed to bowl first to accumulate bowling time before the initial Test match at Optus Stadium, beginning on 21 November.

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

Bethell didn't strengthen his claim for inclusion in the Test team, making only two, but Will Jacks boosted his claim to be called upon during the series by hitting eighty-four.

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

The team's plan to play a single warm-up game against the Lions has been questioned by some ex-players but Stokes hit back by labeling the doubters "past players".

A low-pressure opening day in front of a small crowd of fans at Lilac Hill was certainly a different experience from what the team will encounter at a sold-out Optus Stadium next 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 final Test with a shoulder tear.

The captain has not completed a complete participation in any of England's previous four tours because of various injuries and the tourists' hopes of winning back the series are significantly reduced if he is absent from any of the five Tests in Australia.

He has been bowling at maximum speed for 60 days and appeared in good condition on the match day, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his dismissals were gifted.

Will Jacks is not expected to play in the first Test – the team look to have revealed their intentions with the eleven named here. Still, he may have moved himself in front of the out-of-sorts Jacob Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

Even before the concern over Wood, the five seamers in the team lineup for this match may not have been the bowling unit for the initial match.

Carse was absent from the opening day because of sickness, with his place going to Josh Tongue. Tongue had opening batsman McKinney caught behind just after lunch.

Although Stokes took the wickets, Jofra Archer impressed observers. He was lively with the fresh ball and once more after the interval, when he discomforted Will Jacks.

In the absence of Shoaib Bashir and with Wood leaving the field, Root was required to deliver fourteen overs of his spin bowling. It was mediocre fare, costing 117 at an economy of over eight.

Root at least took a scalp in the final session when Matt Fisher somehow struck a full delivery to mid-on before Archer bounced out Potts for 53 with the final ball of the day.