Ben Stokes Takes 6 Scalps in England Ashes Preparation Match

Practice match, Lilac Hill (first day of three)

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

England XI: yet to bat

Ben Stokes produced six wickets in his return to play following July but England faced an injury concern regarding fast bowler Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up versus the development squad in Perth.

Stokes, returning after nearly four months out with a shoulder injury, delivered sixteen overs across three spells for his six for fifty-two against England Lions – all to catches taken on the on-side.

Fast bowler Mark Wood, also making his comeback after nine months away with a knee problem, delivered a pre-planned number of eight overs before leaving 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 England Lions were dismissed for three hundred eighty-two on a sluggish pitch after an automatic toss at Lilac Hill.

The tourists wanted to field first to build bowling fitness before the initial Test match at the main venue, starting on November 21st.

In a potential indication towards their opening Test strategy, the visiting team fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialists plus Stokes – and omitted spin bowler Bashir in the Lions.

Jacob Bethell failed to press his case for inclusion in the Test side, making only two, but Will Jacks enhanced his claim to be selected later in the tour by scoring eighty-four.

Ben McKinney, Cox, teenage Thomas Rew and Matthew Potts also made fifties.

The team's decision to play a single warm-up game against the development squad has been criticized by some ex-players but the captain responded by calling the doubters "former players".

A relaxed opening day in front of a smattering of fans at Lilac Hill was definitely a world away from what England will encounter at a packed main stadium the following week.

The captain was superb in the series against India in the home summer, only to strain himself to breaking point. He was absent from the final Test with a torn shoulder.

The captain has not managed a complete participation in any of England's previous four series because of various injuries 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 bowling at maximum speed for 60 days and looked in good condition on the match day, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his wickets were presented.

Will Jacks is not expected to feature in the first Test – the team look to have shown their intentions with the eleven selected here. Nevertheless, he may have nudged himself ahead of the out-of-sorts Bethell with his 84, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

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

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

Although Stokes took the wickets, Archer impressed observers. He was energetic with the fresh ball and once more after lunch, when he discomforted Jacks.

In the absence of Bashir and with Mark Wood departing, Joe Root was asked to bowl 14 overs of his off-spin. It was average performance, conceding 117 at an economy of more than eight.

Root at least claimed a wicket in the closing stages when Matt Fisher somehow hit a full delivery to the fielder before Archer bounced out Potts for fifty-three with the final ball of the day.