Stokes Secures 6 Wickets in English Ashes Preparation Match

Practice match, Lilac Hill (first day of three)

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

England XI: still to bat

The England captain achieved six wickets in his return to play following July but the tourists faced an injury concern involving fast bowler Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up against the development squad in Western Australia.

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

Pace bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after 9 months out with a knee problem, bowled a pre-planned number of 8 overs before exiting the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring problem. He will undergo scanning on Friday.

Wood's injury sucked the energy out of the day, as the England Lions were bowled out for 382 on a slow track after an uncontested toss at the venue.

England aimed to field first to get overs in their legs before the initial Test match at Optus Stadium, starting 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 off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in the development squad.

Jacob Bethell didn't strengthen his claim for selection in the Test side, making just two runs, but Will Jacks enhanced his claim to be called upon during the series by swiping 84.

Ben McKinney, Cox, 17-year-old Thomas Rew and Potts also scored fifties.

The team's plan to play a solitary practice match against the Lions has been questioned by some former players but the captain responded by labeling the doubters "former players".

A relaxed first day in front of a small crowd of spectators at the ground was definitely a world away from what England will encounter at a sold-out Optus Stadium the following week.

The captain was superb in the series against India in the home summer, 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 tours because of different fitness issues and the team's hopes of winning back the Ashes are significantly reduced if he is absent from any of the five Tests in the host country.

He has been bowling at maximum speed for 60 days and appeared in good condition on the match day, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his dismissals were presented.

Will Jacks is unlikely to feature in the first Test – England look to have revealed their intentions with the eleven selected here. Still, he may have moved himself in front of the out-of-sorts 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 attack for the initial match.

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

Although Stokes took the scalps, Jofra Archer caught the eye. He was lively with the fresh ball and once more after lunch, when he discomforted Will Jacks.

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

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