Ben Stokes Secures Six Wickets in English Ashes Preparation Match

Tour game, Lilac Hill (day one of 3)

England Lions 382: Jacks 84, McKinney 67; Ben Stokes 6-52

National team: yet to bat

The England captain achieved six wickets in his initial appearance since July but the tourists faced an fitness worry involving Mark Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up against England Lions in Perth.

Stokes, returning after nearly four months out with a shoulder injury, delivered sixteen overs across three bowling spells for his six for fifty-two against the Lions – all to catches on the on-side.

Fast bowler Wood, also making his comeback after 9 months away with a knee problem, bowled a pre-planned number of eight overs before leaving the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring issue. He will undergo scanning on Friday.

Wood's injury drained the intensity out of the day, as the Lions were dismissed for three hundred eighty-two on a sluggish pitch 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 Optus Stadium, beginning on November 21st.

In a potential indication towards their opening Test strategy, the tourists fielded an all-pace attack – four specialists plus the captain – and omitted spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in the development squad.

Jacob Bethell failed to press his claim for selection in the Test team, making just two runs, but Will Jacks boosted his claim to be called upon later in the tour by hitting 84.

McKinney, Cox, 17-year-old Rew and Potts also scored half-centuries.

The team's decision to play a solitary practice match against the development squad has been questioned by some former players but the captain responded by labeling the critics "has-beens".

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

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

The skipper has not managed a full part in any of the team's past four tours because of various injuries and the tourists' hopes of regaining the series 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 the match day, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his dismissals were presented.

Jacks is not expected to feature in the first Test – England look to have shown their intentions with the eleven selected here. Nevertheless, he may have nudged himself in front of the struggling Jacob Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

Even before the doubt over Mark Wood, the five seamers in the England XI for this match may not have been the bowling unit for the initial match.

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

Though the captain took the scalps, Jofra Archer caught the eye. He was energetic with the fresh ball and once more after the interval, when he discomforted Jacks.

In the omission of Bashir and with Wood departing, Joe Root was required to bowl 14 overs of his off-spin. It was average performance, costing 117 at an run rate of more than eight.

Root at least took a wicket in the closing stages when Fisher unexpectedly struck a full delivery to mid-on before Jofra Archer dismissed with a bouncer Potts for 53 with the final ball of the day.