Stokes Secures 6 Wickets in English Ashes Warm-up

Tour match, Lilac Hill (first day of 3)

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

National team: still to bat

Ben Stokes delivered 6 scalps in his first action following July but England encountered an fitness worry involving fast bowler Wood on the opening day of their Test preparation versus the development squad in Western Australia.

Stokes, making his comeback after nearly four months out with a shoulder injury, bowled sixteen overs across three bowling spells for his six for fifty-two versus the Lions – all to catches taken on the on-side.

Fast bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after 9 months away with a knee injury, bowled a pre-planned number of eight overs before departing the field in the post-lunch 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 382 on a slow, low surface after an automatic toss at Lilac Hill.

England wanted to bowl first to build bowling fitness before the first Ashes Test at Optus Stadium, starting on November 21st.

In a potential indication towards their first-Test plans, the visiting team fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialist bowlers plus the captain – and left spin bowler Bashir in the Lions.

Bethell failed to press his claim for inclusion in the Test side, making just two runs, but Will Jacks enhanced his claim to be called upon during the series by hitting 84.

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

The team's plan to play a single practice match against the development squad has been questioned by some former players but Stokes hit back by labeling the critics "past players".

A relaxed opening day in front of a small crowd of spectators at the ground was definitely a world away from what the team will face at a packed main stadium next week.

Stokes was superb in the series against the Indian team in the home summer, only to push himself to breaking point. He was absent from the last match with a torn shoulder.

The captain has not completed a full part in any of England's previous four series because of different fitness issues and the tourists' chances 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 looked in fine shape on the match day, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his wickets were presented.

Jacks is not expected to play in the first Test – England look to have shown their intentions with the eleven named here. Nevertheless, he may have moved himself in front of the out-of-sorts Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

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

Brydon Carse was absent from the first 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 the captain took the wickets, Archer impressed observers. He was energetic with the fresh ball and again after the interval, when he caused problems for Will Jacks.

In the omission of Shoaib Bashir and with Wood departing, Joe Root was asked to bowl fourteen overs of his spin bowling. It was average performance, conceding 117 runs at an economy of more than eight.

Joe Root at least claimed a wicket in the closing stages when Fisher unexpectedly hit a full delivery to the fielder before Archer bounced out Potts for 53 with the final ball of the day.