Stokes Takes 6 Wickets in England Ashes Preparation Match

Practice game, Lilac Hill (day one of 3)

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

National team: awaiting batting

The England captain achieved 6 scalps in his initial appearance following July but the tourists encountered an injury concern about Mark Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up versus England Lions in Western Australia.

The England captain, returning after nearly four months out with a shoulder injury, bowled 16 overs across three spells for his six for fifty-two against England Lions – all to catches on the leg side.

Pace bowler Mark Wood, also making his comeback after 9 months away with a knee problem, bowled a pre-planned number of 8 overs before departing the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring issue. He will receive scanning on the following day.

Wood's injury removed the intensity out of the day, as the England Lions were dismissed for three hundred eighty-two on a slow, low surface after an automatic toss at Lilac Hill.

The tourists aimed to field first to accumulate bowling time before the initial Test match at the main venue, starting on 21 November.

In a potential indication towards their opening Test strategy, the tourists fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialist bowlers plus Stokes – and omitted spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in the development squad.

Jacob Bethell failed to press his claim for selection in the Test team, making only two, but Jacks boosted his claim to be called upon later in the tour by hitting eighty-four.

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

England's decision to play a single practice match against the development squad has been questioned by some former players but the captain responded by calling the critics "has-beens".

A low-pressure opening day in front of a small crowd of fans at the ground 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 the Indian team in the domestic season, only to push himself to breaking point. He missed the last match with a shoulder tear.

The captain has not completed a complete participation in any of England's previous four tours because of various injuries and the tourists' hopes of winning back the Ashes are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five matches in the host country.

He has been practicing at maximum speed for two months and appeared in good condition on Wednesday, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his dismissals were gifted.

Will Jacks is not expected to play in the first Test – the team look to have shown their intentions with the eleven selected here. Nevertheless, he may have moved himself in front of the struggling Jacob Bethell with his 84, which came at almost a run a ball.

Prior to the concern over Wood, the five fast bowlers in the England XI for this match may not have been the bowling unit for the first Test.

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

Although Stokes took the wickets, Jofra Archer impressed observers. He was energetic with the new ball and once more after the interval, when he discomforted Will Jacks.

In the absence of Shoaib Bashir and with Wood departing, Joe Root was required to deliver fourteen overs of his spin bowling. It was mediocre fare, conceding 117 at an run rate of more than eight.

Root at least claimed a wicket in the final session when Fisher unexpectedly struck a full delivery to the fielder before Jofra Archer bounced out Potts for fifty-three with the final ball of the day.