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

Practice match, Perth venue (day one of three)

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

National team: yet to bat

Ben Stokes produced 6 scalps in his initial appearance after July but England encountered an injury concern about Mark Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up against the development squad in Perth.

Stokes, returning after nearly four months out with a shoulder problem, bowled 16 overs across three bowling spells for his six for fifty-two against the Lions – each to catches on the leg side.

Pace bowler Wood, himself returning after nine months out with a knee problem, delivered a pre-planned number of 8 overs before leaving the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring issue. He will undergo scanning on Friday.

Wood's injury drained the energy out of the day, as the Lions were bowled out for 382 on a slow track after an automatic toss at the venue.

The tourists aimed to bowl first to get overs in their legs before the first Ashes Test at the main venue, beginning on 21 November.

In a possible hint towards their opening Test strategy, the tourists fielded an all-pace attack – four specialists plus Stokes – and left spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in the Lions.

Bethell failed to press his case for selection in the Test side, making only two, but Jacks enhanced his claim to be selected during the series by hitting 84.

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

England's decision to play a solitary practice match against the development squad has been questioned by some ex-players but the captain hit back by calling the doubters "has-beens".

A relaxed opening day in front of a smattering of fans at Lilac Hill was certainly a different experience from what England will face at a packed main stadium the following week.

The captain was excellent in the series against the Indian team in the domestic season, only to push himself to injury. He was absent from the last match with a shoulder tear.

The captain has not managed a full part in any of the team's previous four series because of different fitness issues and the team's hopes of regaining the Ashes are vastly diminished if he misses any of the five matches in Australia.

He has been bowling at maximum speed for 60 days and appeared in fine shape on Wednesday, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his wickets were gifted.

Jacks is unlikely to feature in the opening match – England look to have revealed their hand with the eleven selected here. Still, he may have nudged himself in front of the struggling Jacob 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 first Test.

Brydon Carse missed the opening day because of sickness, with his place going to Tongue. Tongue had opening batsman Ben McKinney caught behind just after the break.

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

In the absence of Bashir and with Mark Wood departing, Root was asked to bowl 14 overs of his spin bowling. It was mediocre fare, costing 117 at an economy of more than eight.

Joe Root at least took a scalp in the final session when Fisher unexpectedly struck a full toss to the fielder before Archer dismissed with a bouncer Matthew Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.