Stokes Claims Six Wickets in English Ashes Preparation Match

Practice game, Lilac Hill (day one of 3)

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

National team: awaiting batting

The England captain achieved 6 scalps in his return to play after July but the tourists encountered an fitness worry about Mark Wood on the opening day of their Test preparation versus the development squad in Perth.

The England captain, returning after approximately four months out with a shoulder problem, delivered 16 overs across three spells for his 6-52 versus the Lions – all to catches on the on-side.

Fast bowler Wood, himself returning after nine months out 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 drained the intensity out of the day, as the Lions were dismissed for 382 on a slow, low surface after an uncontested toss at the venue.

The tourists wanted to field first to accumulate bowling time before the initial Test match at Optus Stadium, beginning on November 21st.

In a possible hint towards their opening Test strategy, the tourists 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 boosted his claim to be called upon later in the tour by scoring eighty-four.

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

England's plan to play a solitary warm-up game against the Lions has been questioned by some ex-players but Stokes hit back by calling the doubters "former players".

A low-pressure opening day in front of a smattering of spectators at Lilac Hill was definitely a world away from what the team will encounter at a packed Optus Stadium the following week.

Stokes was superb in the contest against the Indian team in the domestic season, only to strain himself to breaking point. He missed the last match with a shoulder tear.

The captain has not managed a complete participation in any of England's previous four tours because of different fitness issues and the tourists' hopes of regaining the series are vastly diminished if he misses any of the five Tests in Australia.

He has been practicing at full pace for 60 days and appeared in good condition on Wednesday, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his dismissals were gifted.

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

Even before the concern over Wood, the five seamers in the England XI for this match may not have been the bowling unit for the first Test.

Brydon Carse was absent from the opening day because of sickness, with his place going to Josh Tongue. Tongue had opening batsman Ben McKinney edging to the keeper just after lunch.

Although Stokes took the wickets, Archer impressed observers. He was energetic with the new ball and again after lunch, when he caused problems for Jacks.

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

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