Ben Stokes Takes 6 Scalps in England Test Series Preparation Match

Practice match, Lilac Hill (day one of 3)

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

National team: awaiting batting

The England captain produced 6 scalps in his first action since July but the tourists encountered an fitness worry involving Mark Wood on the opening day of their Test preparation against the development squad in Perth.

The England captain, making his comeback after almost four months away with a shoulder problem, bowled 16 overs across three spells for his 6-52 versus England Lions – each to catches taken on the leg side.

Pace bowler Mark Wood, also making his comeback after 9 months away with a knee injury, bowled a pre-planned number of eight overs before exiting the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring problem. He will receive scanning on the following day.

Wood's injury sucked the intensity out of the day, as the England Lions were bowled out for 382 on a sluggish pitch after an uncontested toss at Lilac Hill.

The tourists wanted to field first to get overs in their legs before the first Ashes Test at Optus Stadium, beginning on 21 November.

In a possible hint towards their opening Test strategy, the tourists fielded an all-pace attack – four specialists plus the captain – and left off-spinner Bashir in the development squad.

Bethell failed to press his case for inclusion in the Test team, making only two, but Will Jacks enhanced his claim to be selected during the series by scoring 84.

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

England's plan to play a solitary practice match against the development squad has been criticized by some former players but Stokes responded by calling the doubters "former players".

A low-pressure first day in front of a small crowd of fans at Lilac Hill was certainly a different experience from what the team will face at a sold-out Optus Stadium the following week.

The captain was excellent in the contest against India in the domestic season, only to push himself to injury. He was absent from the last match with a torn shoulder.

The skipper has not managed a complete participation in any of England's previous four series because of different fitness issues and the team's 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 maximum speed for 60 days 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 not expected to feature in the opening match – the team look to have revealed their hand with the XI named here. Nevertheless, he may have nudged himself ahead of the struggling Bethell with his 84, which came at almost a run a ball.

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

Brydon 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 the break.

Though the captain took the scalps, Archer impressed observers. He was energetic with the new ball and again after the interval, when he caused problems for Will Jacks.

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

Joe Root at least took a wicket in the closing stages when Matt Fisher somehow struck a full toss to the fielder before Archer dismissed with a bouncer Potts for 53 with the final ball of the day.