Ben Stokes Takes 6 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: awaiting batting

Ben Stokes delivered six wickets in his initial appearance following July but England encountered an injury concern regarding Mark Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up versus England Lions in Western Australia.

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

Pace bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after 9 months away with a knee injury, delivered a pre-planned number of eight overs before exiting the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring problem. He will have a scan on Friday.

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

England wanted to bowl first to build bowling fitness before the initial Test match at Optus Stadium, beginning on 21 November.

In a possible hint towards their first-Test plans, the visiting team selected an all-pace attack – four specialist bowlers plus Stokes – and left spin bowler Bashir in the Lions.

Jacob Bethell failed to press his claim for inclusion in the Test team, making just two runs, but Jacks enhanced his credentials to be selected later in the tour by scoring eighty-four.

Ben McKinney, Cox, teenage Rew and Potts also scored fifties.

The team's plan to play a solitary warm-up game against the development squad has been questioned by some ex-players but Stokes hit back by labeling the critics "former players".

A low-pressure opening day in front of a smattering of spectators at the ground was certainly a world away from what the team will face at a packed main stadium next week.

Stokes was excellent in the contest against India in the domestic season, only to strain himself to breaking point. He missed the last match with a torn shoulder.

The skipper has not completed a complete participation in any of the team's previous four tours because of various injuries and the tourists' hopes of regaining the series are vastly diminished if he misses any of the five Tests in Australia.

He has been practicing at maximum speed for two months and appeared in good condition on the match day, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his wickets were gifted.

Jacks is unlikely to feature in the first Test – the team look to have shown their hand with the XI named here. Still, he may have nudged himself in front of the out-of-sorts Bethell with his 84, which came at almost a run a ball.

Prior to the doubt over Wood, the five seamers in the England XI for this match may not have been the attack for the initial match.

Brydon Carse was absent from the first day because of sickness, with his position going to Josh Tongue. Tongue had Lions opener Ben McKinney edging to the keeper just after lunch.

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

In the omission of Bashir and with Wood departing, Joe Root was asked to bowl fourteen overs of his off-spin. It was mediocre fare, conceding 117 at an run rate of more than eight.

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