Ben Stokes Takes 6 Wickets in England Ashes Warm-up

Tour match, Lilac Hill (day one of three)

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

National team: still to bat

Ben Stokes produced six wickets in his return to play after July but the tourists faced an fitness worry about Mark Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up against England Lions in Western Australia.

The England captain, making his comeback after almost four months away with a shoulder injury, delivered 16 overs across three spells for his six for fifty-two against 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 pre-planned number of 8 overs before exiting the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring problem. He will undergo scanning on the following day.

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

England wanted to field first to get overs in their legs before the first Ashes Test at the main venue, starting on 21 November.

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

Bethell didn't strengthen his case for selection in the Test side, making just two runs, but Will Jacks boosted his claim to be selected during the series by hitting 84.

McKinney, Cox, teenage Thomas Rew and Potts also made fifties.

The team's plan to play a single warm-up game against the development squad has been criticized by some ex-players but Stokes hit back by labeling the critics "has-beens".

A low-pressure opening day in front of a smattering of spectators at the ground was definitely a world away from what the team will encounter at a packed main stadium the following week.

Stokes was superb in the series against India in the home summer, only to strain himself to injury. He was absent from the last match with a shoulder tear.

The skipper has not managed a full part in any of England's past four tours because of various injuries and the team's hopes of regaining the Ashes are vastly diminished if he is absent from any of the five Tests in Australia.

He has been practicing 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 dismissals were presented.

Jacks is unlikely to play in the first Test – the team look to have shown their intentions with the XI named here. Still, he may have moved himself ahead of the out-of-sorts Bethell with his 84, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

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

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

Although the captain took the scalps, Archer caught the eye. He was energetic with the fresh ball and once more after the interval, when he caused problems for Will Jacks.

In the omission of Shoaib Bashir and with Mark Wood leaving the field, Joe Root was asked to bowl 14 overs of his spin bowling. It was average performance, costing 117 runs at an economy of over eight.

Root at least claimed a wicket in the closing stages when Matt Fisher somehow hit a full delivery to the fielder before Archer bounced out Potts for fifty-three with the last delivery of the day.