Stokes Takes Six Scalps in English Ashes Preparation Match

Tour match, Perth venue (first day of three)

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

England XI: yet to bat

Ben Stokes achieved 6 scalps in his initial appearance since July but the tourists faced an injury concern involving Mark Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up against the development squad in Western Australia.

Stokes, making his comeback after nearly four months out with a shoulder problem, delivered 16 overs across three spells for his six for fifty-two against England Lions – each to catches on the leg side.

Fast bowler Wood, himself returning after 9 months out with a knee injury, delivered a scheduled amount of eight overs before exiting the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring problem. He will have a scan on the following day.

Wood's injury sucked the energy out of the day, as the Lions were dismissed for three hundred eighty-two on a slow track after an automatic toss at Lilac Hill.

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

In a potential indication towards their opening Test strategy, the visiting team fielded an all-pace attack – four specialists plus the captain – and left spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in the development squad.

Bethell failed to press his case for selection in the Test team, making only two, but Jacks boosted his credentials to be selected later in the tour by swiping eighty-four.

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

England's plan to play a single warm-up game against the Lions has been questioned by some former players but the captain responded by labeling the doubters "former players".

A low-pressure first day in front of a small crowd of fans at Lilac Hill was certainly a different experience from what England will encounter at a packed Optus Stadium next week.

Stokes was excellent in the series against India in the domestic season, only to push himself to breaking point. He was absent from the last match with a torn shoulder.

The skipper has not completed a full part in any of England's previous four tours because of different fitness issues and the tourists' chances of regaining the series are vastly diminished if he misses any of the five matches in the host country.

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

Will Jacks is unlikely to feature in the opening match – England look to have revealed their hand with the eleven selected here. Still, he may have nudged himself ahead of the struggling Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

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

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

Though the captain took the scalps, Jofra Archer impressed observers. He was energetic with the fresh ball and again after lunch, when he caused problems for Jacks.

In the omission of Shoaib Bashir and with Wood departing, Joe Root was required to deliver fourteen overs of his spin bowling. It was average performance, conceding 117 at an economy of over eight.

Root at least took a wicket in the final session when Matt Fisher unexpectedly hit a full delivery to the fielder before Archer dismissed with a bouncer Potts for fifty-three with the final ball of the day.