Ben Stokes Secures Six Wickets in English Ashes Preparation Match

Practice match, Perth venue (first day of 3)

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

England XI: awaiting batting

The England captain produced six wickets in his initial appearance after July but England faced an injury concern involving fast bowler Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up versus the development squad in Western Australia.

Stokes, making his comeback after approximately four months out with a shoulder problem, bowled 16 overs across three bowling spells for his 6-52 versus England Lions – each to catches taken on the on-side.

Fast bowler Mark Wood, also making his comeback after 9 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 removed the energy out of the day, as the England Lions were bowled out for three hundred eighty-two on a slow, low surface after an automatic toss at Lilac Hill.

England aimed to field first to get overs in their legs before the initial Test match at Optus Stadium, beginning on 21 November.

In a potential indication towards their first-Test plans, the visiting team fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialists plus Stokes – and omitted off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in the development squad.

Jacob Bethell didn't strengthen his claim for inclusion in the Test team, making just two runs, but Will Jacks enhanced his credentials to be called upon during the series by scoring eighty-four.

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

England's plan to play a single practice match against the Lions has been questioned by some ex-players but the captain responded by labeling the critics "past players".

A low-pressure opening day in front of a small crowd of fans at the ground was definitely a world away from what the team will face at a packed Optus Stadium the following week.

Stokes was excellent in the series against the Indian team in the domestic season, only to push himself to injury. He missed the last match with a shoulder tear.

The captain has not managed a full part in any of the team's past 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 Tests in the host country.

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

Will Jacks is not expected to feature in the opening match – the team look to have revealed their hand with the eleven selected here. Still, he may have nudged himself in front of the struggling Bethell with his 84, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

Prior to the doubt over Wood, the five fast bowlers in the team lineup for this match may not have been the attack for the first Test.

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

Though Stokes took the scalps, Jofra Archer impressed observers. He was energetic with the new ball and once more after the interval, when he discomforted Jacks.

In the omission of Bashir and with Mark Wood leaving the field, Root was asked to deliver 14 overs of his spin bowling. It was mediocre fare, costing 117 runs at an economy of more than eight.

Root at least claimed a wicket in the closing stages when Matt Fisher somehow hit a full toss to mid-on before Archer bounced out Matthew Potts for 53 with the final ball of the day.