Stokes Takes Six Wickets in English Ashes Preparation Match

Tour match, Perth venue (day one of 3)

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

England XI: yet to bat

The England captain delivered 6 scalps in his initial appearance after July but the tourists faced an fitness worry about Mark Wood on the first day of their Test preparation against England Lions in Western Australia.

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

Fast bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after nine months away with a knee injury, bowled a pre-planned number of 8 overs before departing the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring problem. He will have a scan on Friday.

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

The tourists aimed to bowl first to get overs in their legs before the initial Test match at Optus Stadium, starting on 21 November.

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

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

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

The team's decision 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 critics "past players".

A relaxed opening day in front of a small crowd of fans at Lilac Hill was definitely a different experience from what the team will encounter at a packed main stadium the following week.

Stokes was superb in the series against India in the home summer, only to strain himself to injury. He was absent from the final Test with a torn shoulder.

The captain has not managed a full part in any of the team's previous four tours because of various injuries and the tourists' chances of winning back the series are significantly reduced if he is absent from any of the five Tests in the host country.

He has been bowling at full pace 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 gifted.

Jacks is unlikely to play in the first Test – England look to have shown their intentions with the eleven selected here. Nevertheless, he may have nudged himself ahead of the struggling Jacob Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at almost a run a ball.

Prior to the doubt over Mark Wood, the five seamers in the team lineup for this game may not have been the attack 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 edging to the keeper just after lunch.

Though the captain took the wickets, Jofra Archer caught the eye. He was lively with the fresh ball and once more after the interval, when he caused problems for Jacks.

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

Joe Root at least claimed a scalp in the final session when Matt Fisher unexpectedly struck a full toss to mid-on before Archer bounced out Potts for fifty-three with the final ball of the day.