Stokes Takes 6 Wickets in English Ashes Preparation Match

Tour game, Lilac Hill (first day of three)

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

National team: still to bat

Ben Stokes achieved six wickets in his initial appearance after July but England faced an fitness worry regarding Mark Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up versus England Lions in Perth.

The England captain, making his comeback after nearly four months out with a shoulder injury, bowled sixteen overs across three spells for his six for fifty-two against the Lions – each to catches taken on the on-side.

Pace bowler Wood, himself returning after nine months out with a knee problem, delivered a pre-planned number of 8 overs before departing the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring issue. He will have a scan on the following day.

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

England wanted to bowl first to get overs in their legs before the first Ashes Test at the main venue, beginning on 21 November.

In a possible hint 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 development squad.

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

McKinney, Cox, teenage Rew and Matthew Potts also scored half-centuries.

The team's plan to play a solitary practice match against the development squad has been criticized by some ex-players but the captain hit back by labeling the critics "former players".

A low-pressure first day in front of a smattering of spectators at the ground was definitely a world away from what England will encounter at a packed Optus Stadium the following week.

The captain 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 skipper has not completed a complete participation in any of the team's past four series because of various injuries and the team's chances of winning back the Ashes are vastly diminished if he misses any of the five Tests in Australia.

He has been bowling at maximum speed for two months and looked in good condition on the match day, 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 opening match – England look to have revealed their hand with the XI selected here. Still, he may have moved himself in front of the struggling Bethell with his 84, which came at almost a run a ball.

Even before the concern over Wood, the five seamers in the team lineup for this game may not have been the bowling unit for the initial match.

Carse missed the opening day because of illness, with his place going to Josh Tongue. Josh Tongue had Lions opener McKinney caught behind just after the break.

Although the captain took the wickets, Archer caught the eye. He was lively with the new 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 off-spin. It was average performance, costing 117 runs at an economy of over eight.

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