Ben Stokes Secures 6 Scalps in English Ashes Preparation Match

Tour game, Lilac Hill (day one of 3)

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

England XI: awaiting batting

The England captain achieved six wickets in his initial appearance after July but England faced an injury concern involving fast bowler Wood on the first day of their Test preparation versus England Lions in Perth.

Stokes, making his comeback after nearly four months away with a shoulder problem, bowled sixteen overs across three bowling spells for his six for fifty-two versus England Lions – each to catches taken on the leg side.

Pace bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after nine months out with a knee injury, bowled a scheduled amount of eight overs before exiting the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring issue. He will undergo scanning on the following day.

Wood's injury removed the energy out of the day, as the England Lions were dismissed for 382 on a slow, low surface after an automatic toss at Lilac Hill.

England wanted to field first to accumulate bowling time before the first Ashes Test at the main venue, starting on November 21st.

In a possible hint towards their opening Test strategy, the tourists selected an all-pace attack – four specialists plus Stokes – and omitted spin bowler Bashir in the development squad.

Bethell failed to press his claim for inclusion in the Test side, making just two runs, but Will Jacks boosted his claim to be selected during the series by hitting eighty-four.

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

England's plan to play a solitary practice match against the Lions has been criticized by some ex-players but Stokes hit back by labeling the doubters "former players".

A low-pressure opening day in front of a smattering of fans at the ground was definitely a different experience from what England will face at a packed main stadium next week.

The captain was superb in the contest against India in the home summer, only to push himself to injury. He missed the last match with a torn shoulder.

The captain has not completed a complete participation in any of England's previous four series because of different fitness issues and the team's chances of winning back the series are vastly diminished if he misses any of the five Tests in Australia.

He has been bowling at maximum speed 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.

Jacks is unlikely to play in the first Test – the team look to have revealed their intentions with the XI named here. Nevertheless, he may have nudged himself ahead of the struggling Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at almost a run a ball.

Prior to the concern over Mark Wood, the five fast bowlers in the England XI for this match may not have been the attack for the first Test.

Carse missed the opening day because of illness, with his place going to Josh Tongue. Tongue had Lions opener Ben McKinney edging to the keeper just after lunch.

Though the captain took the scalps, Archer impressed observers. He was energetic 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 mediocre fare, costing 117 runs at an run rate of over eight.

Joe Root at least claimed a wicket in the closing stages when Fisher unexpectedly struck a full delivery to the fielder before Jofra Archer dismissed with a bouncer Matthew Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.