Ben Stokes Secures Six Wickets in England Test Series Preparation Match

Tour game, Lilac Hill (first day of three)

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

National team: still to bat

Ben Stokes produced 6 scalps in his first action after July but England encountered an fitness worry involving Mark Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up against the development squad in Western Australia.

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

Pace bowler Mark Wood, also making his comeback after nine months out with a knee problem, bowled a scheduled amount of eight overs before exiting the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring problem. He will have a scan on Friday.

The Wood situation sucked the intensity out of the day, as the Lions were dismissed for 382 on a slow, low surface after an automatic toss at the venue.

England aimed to field first to build bowling fitness before the initial Test match at the main venue, beginning on 21 November.

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

Jacob 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 later in the tour by hitting 84.

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

England's decision to play a solitary practice match against the Lions has been criticized by some former players but Stokes hit back by labeling the doubters "has-beens".

A relaxed opening day in front of a smattering of spectators at the ground was certainly a different experience from what England will encounter at a sold-out main stadium the following week.

Stokes was excellent in the contest against India in the home summer, only to push himself to breaking point. He was absent from the final Test with a torn shoulder.

The skipper has not managed a complete participation in any of the team's previous four series because of various injuries and the tourists' chances of regaining the series are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five matches in the host country.

He has been practicing at maximum speed for two months and appeared in fine shape on the match day, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his dismissals were gifted.

Jacks is unlikely to feature in the opening match – the team look to have revealed their intentions with the eleven named here. Nevertheless, he may have moved himself ahead of the out-of-sorts Jacob Bethell with his 84, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

Even before the concern over Wood, the five fast bowlers in the England XI for this match may not have been the attack for the initial match.

Carse missed the opening day because of sickness, with his place going to Tongue. Tongue had Lions opener Ben McKinney edging to the keeper just after the break.

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

In the omission of Bashir and with Wood departing, Root was required to deliver fourteen overs of his spin bowling. It was average performance, conceding 117 runs at an economy of more than eight.

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