Ben Stokes Claims Six Wickets in English Ashes Preparation Match

Practice match, Perth venue (day one of three)

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

National team: yet to bat

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

The England captain, making his comeback after almost four months out with a shoulder injury, bowled 16 overs across three bowling spells for his six for fifty-two against the Lions – all to catches on the leg side.

Fast bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after 9 months out with a knee problem, bowled a pre-planned number of 8 overs before exiting the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring issue. He will have a scan on the following day.

The Wood situation drained the intensity out of the day, as the England Lions were bowled out for 382 on a slow, low surface after an automatic toss at the venue.

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

In a potential indication towards their opening Test strategy, the tourists selected an all-pace attack – four specialists plus Stokes – and left off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in the Lions.

Jacob Bethell didn't strengthen his claim for selection in the Test team, making only two, but Jacks boosted his credentials to be called upon later in the tour by scoring 84.

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

England's plan to play a solitary warm-up game against the development squad has been criticized by some former players but Stokes hit back by labeling the doubters "former players".

A relaxed first day in front of a smattering of spectators at Lilac Hill was definitely a world away from what England will encounter at a sold-out 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 was absent from the last match with a shoulder tear.

The captain has not completed a complete participation in any of the team's previous four tours because of different fitness issues and the tourists' hopes of winning back the Ashes are significantly reduced if he is absent from any of the five matches in Australia.

He has been practicing at full pace for 60 days and appeared in fine shape on Wednesday, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his wickets were presented.

Jacks is unlikely to feature in the first Test – England look to have revealed their hand with the eleven named here. Nevertheless, he may have moved himself in front of the struggling Jacob Bethell with his 84, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

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

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

Although the captain took the wickets, Archer impressed observers. He was energetic with the fresh ball and once more after lunch, when he caused problems for Jacks.

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

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