Stokes Secures Six Wickets in English Ashes Preparation Match

Tour match, Lilac Hill (first day of 3)

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

England XI: awaiting batting

The England captain produced 6 scalps in his first action after July but England encountered an injury concern about Mark Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up versus England Lions in Western Australia.

The England captain, making his comeback after almost four months out with a shoulder injury, delivered 16 overs across three bowling spells for his six for fifty-two against England Lions – each to catches on the on-side.

Pace bowler Mark Wood, also making his comeback after 9 months out with a knee injury, bowled a scheduled amount of eight overs before leaving the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring issue. He will have a scan on Friday.

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

England aimed to bowl first to build bowling fitness before the first Ashes Test at the main venue, beginning on 21 November.

In a possible hint towards their first-Test plans, the tourists fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialists plus Stokes – and left off-spinner Bashir in the Lions.

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

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

England's decision to play a solitary practice match against the development squad has been questioned by some ex-players but Stokes hit back by labeling the critics "former players".

A low-pressure opening day in front of a smattering of spectators at Lilac Hill was definitely a world away from what the team will encounter at a sold-out main stadium next week.

Stokes was superb in the series against India in the home summer, only to strain 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 England's previous four series because of different fitness issues and the tourists' hopes of winning back the series are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five matches in Australia.

He has been bowling at full pace for two months and looked in good condition on Wednesday, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his dismissals were gifted.

Jacks is not expected to play in the opening match – England look to have shown their intentions with the XI named here. Nevertheless, he may have nudged himself in front of the struggling Jacob 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 team lineup for this match may not have been the bowling unit for the initial match.

Brydon Carse was absent from the opening day because of illness, with his position going to Tongue. Tongue had Lions opener Ben McKinney caught behind just after the break.

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

In the omission of Bashir and with Mark Wood leaving the field, Root was asked to bowl fourteen overs of his off-spin. It was average performance, costing 117 at an economy of more than eight.

Root at least claimed a scalp in the closing stages when Fisher somehow struck a full toss to mid-on before Jofra Archer dismissed with a bouncer Potts for 53 with the final ball of the day.