Stokes Secures Six Wickets in English Ashes Preparation Match

Practice game, Lilac Hill (first day of three)

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

National team: awaiting batting

Ben Stokes delivered 6 scalps in his first action following July but the tourists faced an injury concern regarding Mark Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up against England Lions in Perth.

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

Pace bowler Mark Wood, also making his comeback after nine months out with a knee injury, bowled a scheduled amount of 8 overs before departing the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring issue. He will undergo scanning on Friday.

Wood's injury removed the intensity out of the day, as the Lions were bowled out for three hundred eighty-two on a slow track after an automatic toss at the venue.

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

In a possible hint towards their opening Test strategy, the visiting team fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialists plus the captain – and left off-spinner Bashir in the Lions.

Bethell didn't strengthen his claim for inclusion in the Test team, making just two runs, but Will Jacks boosted his claim to be called upon during the series by hitting 84.

Ben McKinney, Jordan Cox, 17-year-old Rew and Potts also made half-centuries.

The team's decision to play a single warm-up game against the Lions has been questioned by some ex-players but Stokes hit back by calling the critics "has-beens".

A low-pressure first day in front of a small crowd of fans at the ground was definitely a different experience from what England will face at a sold-out Optus Stadium next week.

The captain was superb in the contest against the Indian team in the domestic season, only to push himself to injury. He was absent from the final Test with a shoulder tear.

The captain has not managed a full part in any of England's past four series because of various injuries and the tourists' hopes of regaining the series are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five Tests in Australia.

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

Will Jacks is unlikely to feature in the first Test – England look to have revealed their intentions with the XI named here. Nevertheless, he may have nudged himself in front of the out-of-sorts Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at almost a run a ball.

Prior to the doubt over Wood, the five fast bowlers in the England XI for this match may not have been the bowling unit for the initial match.

Brydon Carse missed the opening day because of sickness, with his place going to Tongue. Tongue had Lions opener McKinney caught behind just after lunch.

Although the captain took the wickets, Jofra Archer caught the eye. He was lively with the new ball and again after the interval, when he caused problems for Jacks.

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

Joe Root at least claimed a scalp in the closing stages when Fisher somehow struck a full toss to the fielder before Jofra Archer dismissed with a bouncer Matthew Potts for fifty-three with the last delivery of the day.