Ben Stokes Takes 6 Wickets in English Test Series Warm-up

Tour game, Perth venue (day one of three)

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

National team: yet to bat

Ben Stokes achieved six wickets in his return to play since July but England faced an injury concern about fast bowler Wood on the first day of their Test preparation versus England Lions in Perth.

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

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

Wood's injury drained the intensity out of the day, as the England Lions were bowled out for 382 on a sluggish pitch after an automatic toss at the venue.

England wanted to bowl first to build bowling fitness before the initial Test match at Optus Stadium, beginning on November 21st.

In a potential indication towards their opening Test strategy, the visiting team fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialists plus Stokes – and omitted off-spinner Bashir in the Lions.

Jacob Bethell failed to press his claim for selection in the Test side, making only two, but Will Jacks enhanced his claim to be selected later in the tour by swiping 84.

Ben McKinney, Jordan Cox, 17-year-old Rew and Matthew Potts also made half-centuries.

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

A low-pressure 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 Optus Stadium next week.

Stokes was superb in the contest against the Indian team in the home summer, only to strain himself to breaking point. He was absent from the last match with a torn shoulder.

The skipper has not managed a full part in any of the team's previous four series because of various injuries and the tourists' hopes of winning back the Ashes are significantly reduced if he is absent from any of the five matches in the host country.

He has been bowling at full pace for 60 days and appeared in good condition on Wednesday, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his wickets were presented.

Will Jacks is unlikely to play in the opening match – the team look to have shown their intentions with the eleven selected here. Nevertheless, he may have nudged himself in front of the struggling Jacob Bethell with his 84, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

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

Carse missed the first day because of illness, with his place going to Tongue. Josh Tongue had opening batsman Ben McKinney edging to the keeper just after the break.

Although Stokes took the scalps, Jofra Archer caught the eye. He was energetic with the new ball and again after lunch, when he caused problems for Jacks.

In the omission of Shoaib Bashir and with Wood leaving the field, Joe Root was asked to bowl fourteen overs of his off-spin. It was mediocre fare, conceding 117 at an run rate of over eight.

Joe Root at least took a scalp in the closing stages when Fisher somehow hit a full delivery to mid-on before Archer bounced out Matthew Potts for fifty-three with the final ball of the day.