Stokes Claims Six Wickets in English Ashes Preparation Match

Tour game, Lilac Hill (day one of three)

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

National team: yet to bat

Ben Stokes produced 6 scalps in his return to play after July but the tourists faced an fitness worry regarding Mark Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up versus England Lions in Perth.

The England captain, returning after approximately four months away with a shoulder problem, delivered 16 overs across three spells for his six for fifty-two versus England Lions – each to catches taken on the leg side.

Pace bowler Wood, himself returning after 9 months away with a knee problem, bowled a pre-planned number of eight overs before exiting the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring issue. He will have a scan on the following day.

The Wood situation removed the intensity out of the day, as the England Lions were bowled out for three hundred eighty-two on a sluggish pitch after an automatic toss at the venue.

England aimed to field first to get overs in their legs before the initial Test match at the main venue, beginning on November 21st.

In a possible hint towards their first-Test plans, the visiting team selected an fast bowling lineup – four specialist bowlers plus Stokes – and omitted off-spinner Bashir in the development squad.

Jacob Bethell didn't strengthen his case for selection in the Test team, making just two runs, but Will Jacks enhanced his credentials to be selected later in the tour by scoring eighty-four.

Ben McKinney, Cox, teenage Thomas Rew and Potts also made half-centuries.

England's decision to play a single warm-up game against the development squad has been questioned by some ex-players but the captain hit back by calling the critics "has-beens".

A relaxed opening day in front of a small crowd of fans at Lilac Hill was certainly a different experience from what the team will encounter at a sold-out Optus Stadium next week.

Stokes was superb in the contest against the Indian team in the home summer, only to strain himself to injury. He was absent from the final Test with a shoulder tear.

The skipper has not completed a full part in any of England's previous four tours because of various injuries and the tourists' hopes of winning back the series are significantly reduced if he is absent from any of the five Tests in the host country.

He has been practicing at full pace 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.

Will Jacks is not expected to play in the first Test – England look to have shown their hand with the eleven named here. Still, he may have nudged himself in front of the struggling Bethell with his 84, which came at almost a run a ball.

Prior to the doubt over Wood, the five seamers in the England XI for this game may not have been the attack for the initial match.

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

Although Stokes took the scalps, Archer impressed observers. He was lively with the fresh ball and again after the interval, when he caused problems for Will Jacks.

In the omission of Bashir and with Wood leaving the field, Joe Root was asked to deliver 14 overs of his spin bowling. It was average performance, conceding 117 runs at an run rate of over eight.

Root at least claimed a wicket in the closing stages when Fisher unexpectedly hit a full delivery to mid-on before Jofra Archer bounced out Potts for fifty-three with the final ball of the day.