Stokes Takes 6 Wickets in England Ashes Preparation Match

Practice match, Lilac Hill (day one of 3)

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

England XI: awaiting batting

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

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

Fast bowler Wood, himself returning after nine months out with a knee injury, delivered a pre-planned number of 8 overs before exiting the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring issue. He will have a scan on the following day.

The Wood situation sucked the energy out of the day, as the England Lions were dismissed for three hundred eighty-two on a slow track after an automatic toss at Lilac Hill.

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

In a potential indication towards their first-Test plans, the visiting team selected an fast bowling lineup – four specialist bowlers plus the captain – and omitted off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in the Lions.

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

McKinney, Jordan Cox, teenage Thomas Rew and Matthew Potts also made fifties.

England's plan to play a single warm-up game against the Lions has been questioned by some ex-players but the captain hit back by labeling the critics "former players".

A relaxed first day in front of a smattering of spectators at the ground was certainly a different experience from what the team will face at a packed Optus Stadium the following week.

Stokes was superb in the series against India in the domestic season, only to push himself to breaking point. He missed the last match with a torn shoulder.

The captain has not managed a full part in any of the team's past four series because of different fitness issues and the tourists' hopes of winning back the Ashes are significantly reduced if he is absent from any of the five matches in Australia.

He has been practicing at maximum speed for 60 days and appeared in fine shape on the match day, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his wickets were presented.

Jacks is not expected to feature in the opening match – England look to have revealed their hand with the eleven selected here. Nevertheless, he may have moved himself in front of the out-of-sorts Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

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

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

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

In the absence of Shoaib Bashir and with Wood leaving the field, Root was required to deliver 14 overs of his off-spin. It was average performance, costing 117 runs at an run rate of more than eight.

Joe Root at least took a wicket in the closing stages when Fisher unexpectedly hit a full delivery to mid-on before Archer bounced out Matthew Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.