Stokes Claims Six Wickets in English Ashes Preparation Match

Practice match, Lilac Hill (day one of three)

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

England XI: still to bat

The England captain delivered 6 scalps in his first action since July but the tourists encountered an fitness worry about fast bowler Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up versus England Lions in Perth.

The England captain, returning after almost four months away with a shoulder injury, delivered sixteen overs across three spells for his 6-52 versus the Lions – each to catches taken on the on-side.

Pace bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after 9 months out with a knee injury, 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 Friday.

Wood's injury drained the energy out of the day, as the England Lions were dismissed for 382 on a sluggish pitch after an uncontested toss at the venue.

The tourists wanted to field first to build bowling fitness before the initial Test match at Optus Stadium, beginning on November 21st.

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

Bethell didn't strengthen his claim for selection in the Test team, making only two, but Jacks enhanced his credentials to be selected during the series by hitting 84.

Ben McKinney, Jordan Cox, 17-year-old Rew and Potts also scored fifties.

England's decision to play a solitary practice match against the development squad has been criticized by some ex-players but the captain hit back by labeling the critics "former players".

A relaxed first day in front of a smattering of fans at the ground was certainly a different experience from what England will encounter at a sold-out main stadium next week.

Stokes was superb in the series against the Indian team in the home summer, only to push himself to breaking point. He was absent from the last match with a torn shoulder.

The captain has not managed a full part in any of England's past four tours because of various injuries and the tourists' hopes of winning back the series are significantly reduced if he is absent from any of the five matches in the host country.

He has been bowling at maximum speed for 60 days and looked in fine shape on Wednesday, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his dismissals were presented.

Jacks is not expected to feature in the opening match – the team look to have shown their hand with the eleven selected here. Nevertheless, he may have moved himself in front of the struggling Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at almost a run a ball.

Even before the doubt over Wood, the five seamers in the England XI for this match may not have been the bowling unit for the first Test.

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

Although Stokes took the scalps, Archer impressed observers. He was energetic with the new ball and again after the interval, when he caused problems for Will Jacks.

In the absence of Bashir and with Mark Wood departing, Joe Root was required to bowl fourteen overs of his spin bowling. It was average performance, costing 117 runs at an run rate of over eight.

Root at least claimed a scalp in the final session when Matt Fisher unexpectedly struck a full toss to the fielder before Jofra Archer bounced out Potts for fifty-three with the final ball of the day.