Stokes Takes Six Scalps in English Ashes Preparation Match

Practice match, Lilac Hill (day one of 3)

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

National team: yet to bat

Ben Stokes produced six wickets in his initial appearance since July but the tourists encountered an injury concern involving Mark Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up against England Lions in Western Australia.

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

Fast bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after nine months out with a knee injury, bowled a scheduled amount of 8 overs before departing the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring problem. He will receive scanning on the following day.

The Wood situation sucked the energy out of the day, as the England Lions were bowled out for 382 on a slow track after an uncontested toss at the venue.

England aimed to bowl first to accumulate bowling time before the first Ashes Test at Optus Stadium, beginning on November 21st.

In a potential indication towards their opening Test strategy, the visiting team fielded an all-pace attack – four specialists plus the captain – and left off-spinner Bashir in the Lions.

Bethell failed to press his claim for inclusion in the Test team, making only two, but Will Jacks enhanced his claim to be called upon during the series by scoring 84.

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

England's plan to play a single warm-up game against the development squad has been questioned by some former players but the captain hit back by labeling the critics "past players".

A relaxed first day in front of a small crowd of spectators at the ground was certainly a world away from what England will face at a packed main stadium the following week.

The captain was superb in the series 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 skipper has not managed a complete participation in any of the team's previous four series because of different fitness issues and the team's chances of winning back the series are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five matches in the host country.

He has been bowling at full pace for two months and appeared in fine shape on the match day, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his wickets were gifted.

Will Jacks is not expected to play in the opening match – 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 84, which came at almost a run a ball.

Even before the concern over Mark Wood, the five fast bowlers in the team lineup for this match may not have been the attack for the first Test.

Brydon Carse was absent from the first day because of sickness, with his place going to Tongue. Tongue had Lions opener McKinney edging to the keeper just after the break.

Although the captain took the scalps, Jofra Archer impressed observers. He was energetic with the fresh ball and again after lunch, when he discomforted Jacks.

In the omission of Shoaib Bashir and with Mark Wood leaving the field, Joe Root was required to deliver 14 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 final session when Matt Fisher unexpectedly hit a full delivery to mid-on before Jofra Archer dismissed with a bouncer Potts for 53 with the final ball of the day.