Ben Stokes Claims 6 Wickets in English Test Series Preparation Match

Practice game, Perth venue (first day of 3)

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

National team: yet to bat

Ben Stokes achieved six wickets in his return to play after July but England faced an fitness worry regarding Mark Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up against England Lions in Western Australia.

The England captain, returning after approximately four months away with a shoulder problem, delivered sixteen overs across three bowling spells for his 6-52 versus the Lions – each to catches taken on the leg side.

Fast bowler Mark Wood, also making his comeback after nine months out with a knee problem, delivered a pre-planned number of 8 overs before exiting the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring problem. He will receive scanning on Friday.

Wood's injury drained the energy out of the day, as the England Lions were bowled out for three hundred eighty-two on a sluggish pitch after an uncontested toss at the venue.

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

In a possible hint towards their opening Test strategy, the visiting team fielded an all-pace attack – four specialist bowlers plus the captain – and omitted spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in the development squad.

Bethell didn't strengthen his claim for inclusion in the Test side, making just two runs, but Will Jacks boosted his claim to be selected later in the tour by scoring 84.

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

England's plan to play a solitary practice match against the development squad has been criticized by some former players but the captain hit back by labeling the doubters "past players".

A low-pressure first day in front of a small crowd of spectators at Lilac Hill was definitely a different experience from what the team will face at a packed main stadium the following week.

Stokes was superb in the series against India in the domestic season, only to strain himself to injury. He missed the final Test with a torn shoulder.

The skipper has not managed a complete participation in any of the team's previous four tours because of various injuries and the team's chances of winning back the Ashes are vastly diminished if he misses any of the five Tests in Australia.

He has been practicing at full pace for two months and looked in good condition on the match day, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his wickets were presented.

Will Jacks is not expected to play in the opening match – England look to have shown their hand with the XI selected here. Still, he may have moved himself ahead of the out-of-sorts Jacob Bethell with his 84, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

Even before the concern over Mark Wood, the five seamers in the England XI for this game may not have been the attack for the initial match.

Carse was absent from the opening day because of illness, with his position going to Josh Tongue. Josh Tongue had opening batsman McKinney edging to the keeper just after the break.

Although Stokes took the scalps, Jofra Archer impressed observers. He was energetic with the new ball and again after lunch, when he discomforted Jacks.

In the absence of Shoaib Bashir and with Wood leaving the field, Root was required to bowl fourteen overs of his spin bowling. It was average performance, conceding 117 at an economy of over eight.

Joe Root at least took a scalp in the final session when Matt Fisher unexpectedly hit a full toss to the fielder before Jofra Archer dismissed with a bouncer Potts for fifty-three with the last delivery of the day.