A lacklustre start has seen more frustrations as a former Melbourne Renegades batter raced to a half-century despite England playing their full pace attack in their lone Ashes practice match at Lilac Hill Park.

Jordan Cox, who plays for Essex in England but played four games for the Renegades two seasons ago, notched a rapid-fire half century from 67 balls on Thursday, cracking boundaries off the likes of Ben Stokes and Mark Wood.

He fell for 53 attempting to send the skipper, Stokes, who has four of the five wickets, over the ropes.

There were more players than fans as play got underway on Thursday morning as Stokes and his men prepared to take on the second XI touring squad, the English Lions.

Fast bowler Mark Wood had made a point of the love the team had been shown since he arrived in Perth a week and a half ago, but it was nowhere to be seen as perfect conditions greeted their only warm-up clash ahead of the Ashes getting underway on November 21.

England named a full-strength side for the opening day and were given the duties of bowling first, having picked four fast bowlers and Stokes as the all-rounder.

No faith was shown in spinner Shoaib Bashir, the off-spinner parked with the Lions alongside tweaking all-rounder Jacob Bethell, who appears unlikely to unseat Ollie Pope at first drop for the first Test.

Much-hyped spearhead Jofra Archer was prominent in the warm-ups, but his efforts were light amid fears he is underdone ahead of the series.

However, he took the new ball as play got underway and after a loosening over found good rhythm, getting the odd ball to rear at the openers.

It wasn’t enough for a wicket as he and Gus Atkinson went wicketless through 10 overs.

Stokes had to turn to himself to finally claim a breakthrough, Tom Haines caught at mid-wicket pulling a length ball.

The intensity finally increased as Wood entered the attack, a short leg moved into place as he worked Ben McKinney and Bethell over.

But it was Stokes who accounted for Bethell on two, the left-hander cracking the ball straight to Archer at square leg for a good catch.

The main side were without bowling all-rounder Brydon Carse, who remained at the hotel after falling ill.

England’s preparation has been fiercely questioned both in Australia and back on home soil, with many former English greats suggesting they are leaving themselves unprepared for a baptism of fire at Optus Stadium next week.

However, captain Stokes caused a stir, calling them “has beens” as he defended his side’s light training camp.

“There’s quite a few factors that play into why we can’t prepare how the has beens maybe prepared in the past,” Stokes said.

“I don’t really know what we’re supposed to do, to be honest. Come the 21st of this month, we know that we would’ve done everything that is possible that we could’ve done to be in the right place.”