Stokes Secures 6 Wickets in English Ashes Warm-up

Tour game, Perth venue (first day of 3)

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

National team: yet to bat

Ben Stokes delivered 6 scalps in his return to play since July but the tourists encountered an injury concern regarding Mark Wood on the first day of their Test preparation against England Lions in Western Australia.

Stokes, returning after almost four months out with a shoulder injury, delivered sixteen overs across three bowling spells for his six for fifty-two versus England Lions – each to catches on the leg side.

Pace bowler Wood, himself returning after 9 months away with a knee problem, delivered a pre-planned number of eight overs before leaving the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring issue. He will undergo scanning on the following day.

The Wood situation removed the energy out of the day, as the Lions were dismissed for 382 on a slow track after an uncontested toss at Lilac Hill.

England wanted to field first to accumulate bowling time before the first Ashes Test at the main venue, beginning on November 21st.

In a potential indication towards their opening Test strategy, the tourists selected an all-pace attack – four specialist bowlers plus the captain – and left off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in the development squad.

Jacob Bethell failed to press his claim for selection in the Test team, making only two, but Jacks boosted his claim to be called upon later in the tour by swiping eighty-four.

Ben McKinney, Cox, 17-year-old Rew and Matthew Potts also made fifties.

England's plan to play a single practice match against the development squad has been criticized by some ex-players but the captain hit back by labeling the doubters "has-beens".

A relaxed 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 next week.

Stokes was superb in the series against India in the home summer, only to push himself to injury. He missed the final Test with a torn shoulder.

The captain has not managed a full part in any of England's previous four tours because of different fitness issues and the tourists' chances of winning back the series are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five matches in Australia.

He has been practicing at full pace for 60 days and looked in good condition on Wednesday, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his dismissals were gifted.

Will Jacks is not expected to feature in the first Test – England look to have shown their hand with the XI named here. Nevertheless, he may have moved himself in front of the struggling Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

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

Brydon Carse missed the opening day because of sickness, with his place going to Tongue. Tongue had opening batsman McKinney caught behind just after the break.

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

In the omission of Shoaib Bashir and with Mark Wood leaving the field, Joe Root was required to bowl 14 overs of his off-spin. It was average performance, conceding 117 runs at an economy of over eight.

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