Stokes Takes Six Wickets in English Ashes Preparation Match

Practice match, Lilac Hill (day one of three)

Development squad 382: Will Jacks 84, Ben McKinney 67; Ben Stokes 6-52

National team: awaiting batting

Ben Stokes produced 6 scalps in his initial appearance after July but the tourists encountered an fitness worry regarding Mark Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up against England Lions in Perth.

The England captain, making his comeback 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.

Pace bowler Wood, also making his comeback after nine months out with a knee problem, delivered a pre-planned number of eight overs before exiting the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring problem. He will undergo scanning on the following day.

Wood's injury sucked the intensity out of the day, as the England Lions were bowled out for 382 on a sluggish pitch after an uncontested toss at Lilac Hill.

England wanted to field first to build bowling fitness before the first Ashes Test at Optus Stadium, beginning on 21 November.

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

Bethell failed to press his case for inclusion in the Test team, making just two runs, but Jacks enhanced his credentials to be selected during the series by hitting 84.

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

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

A low-pressure opening day in front of a small crowd of spectators at Lilac Hill was certainly a different experience from what England will face at a sold-out 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 final Test with a torn shoulder.

The captain has not managed a full part in any of the team's past four series because of various injuries and the team's hopes of winning back the series are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five matches in Australia.

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

Jacks is not expected to play in the opening match – the team look to have shown their intentions with the eleven named here. Still, he may have nudged himself ahead of the out-of-sorts Bethell with his 84, which came at almost a run a ball.

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

Brydon Carse was absent from the first day because of illness, with his place going to Tongue. Tongue had opening batsman Ben McKinney caught behind just after the break.

Though the captain took the wickets, Jofra Archer impressed observers. He was lively with the new ball and again after lunch, when he caused problems for Jacks.

In the absence of 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 more than eight.

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