Stokes Secures Six Scalps in English Ashes Preparation Match

Practice game, Lilac Hill (day one of 3)

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

England XI: awaiting batting

The England captain achieved six wickets in his return to play following July but England encountered an fitness worry regarding Mark Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up versus England Lions in Western Australia.

The England captain, making his comeback after approximately four months away with a shoulder injury, bowled sixteen overs across three bowling spells for his 6-52 against the Lions – each to catches on the leg side.

Pace bowler Wood, also making his comeback after nine months away with a knee injury, delivered a scheduled amount of 8 overs before exiting the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring problem. He will have a scan on Friday.

Wood's injury removed the intensity out of the day, as the Lions were bowled out for 382 on a slow track after an automatic toss at the venue.

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

In a possible hint towards their first-Test plans, the tourists fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialist bowlers plus the captain – and omitted off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in the Lions.

Bethell didn't strengthen his claim for inclusion in the Test side, making just two runs, but Jacks boosted his claim to be selected during the series by hitting 84.

Ben McKinney, Jordan Cox, 17-year-old Rew and Matthew Potts also scored half-centuries.

The team's decision to play a single warm-up game against the development squad has been questioned by some former players but the captain hit back by calling the critics "former players".

A low-pressure first day in front of a small crowd of spectators at Lilac Hill was definitely a different experience from what England will face at a sold-out Optus Stadium the following week.

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

The captain has not completed a full part in any of England's previous four series because of different fitness issues and the team's hopes of regaining the series are vastly diminished if he misses any of the five matches in Australia.

He has been bowling at maximum speed for two months and looked in fine shape on Wednesday, even if he could not believe 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 shown their intentions with the XI named here. Nevertheless, he may have moved himself in front of the out-of-sorts Bethell with his 84, which came at almost a run a ball.

Even before the concern over Wood, the five seamers in the England XI for this game 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 Tongue. Tongue had opening batsman McKinney caught behind just after lunch.

Although Stokes took the wickets, Archer caught the eye. He was lively with the fresh ball and once more after lunch, when he discomforted Jacks.

In the absence of Shoaib Bashir and with Mark Wood departing, Joe Root was required to deliver 14 overs of his off-spin. It was mediocre fare, conceding 117 at an run rate of more than eight.

Joe Root at least claimed a scalp in the final session when Matt Fisher somehow hit a full delivery to the fielder before Jofra Archer dismissed with a bouncer Matthew Potts for fifty-three with the final ball of the day.