Ben Stokes Claims Six Wickets in England Ashes Preparation Match

Practice game, Lilac Hill (first day of 3)

Development squad 382: Jacks 84, McKinney 67; Stokes 6-52

England XI: still to bat

Ben Stokes produced six wickets in his return to play since July but the tourists faced an fitness worry regarding fast bowler Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up versus England Lions in Perth.

The England captain, returning after almost four months away with a shoulder problem, bowled 16 overs across three spells for his 6-52 versus England Lions – each to catches taken on the leg side.

Fast bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after nine months out with a knee problem, bowled a scheduled amount of 8 overs before departing the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring problem. He will have a scan on the following day.

Wood's injury sucked the intensity out of the day, as the Lions were bowled out for 382 on a sluggish pitch after an uncontested toss at Lilac Hill.

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

In a potential indication towards their opening Test strategy, the tourists fielded an all-pace attack – four specialists plus the captain – and omitted spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in the Lions.

Bethell failed to press his claim for inclusion in the Test side, making only two, but Will Jacks boosted his credentials to be called upon later in the tour by hitting 84.

McKinney, Jordan Cox, teenage Rew and Matthew Potts also scored fifties.

The team's decision to play a single practice match against the development squad has been questioned by some former players but Stokes hit back by labeling the doubters "has-beens".

A low-pressure 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 sold-out Optus Stadium the following week.

Stokes was excellent in the contest against the Indian team in the home summer, only to push himself to injury. He missed the last match with a torn shoulder.

The captain has not managed a full part in any of England's previous four tours because of various injuries and the team's chances of regaining the series are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five Tests in the host country.

He has been practicing at maximum speed for 60 days and looked in fine shape on the match day, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his wickets were gifted.

Jacks is unlikely to feature in the first Test – the team look to have revealed their intentions with the eleven named here. Nevertheless, he may have moved himself in front of the out-of-sorts Jacob Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

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

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

Though the captain took the wickets, Jofra Archer impressed observers. He was energetic with the new ball and again after lunch, when he discomforted Will Jacks.

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

Root at least claimed a scalp in the final session when Fisher unexpectedly struck a full delivery to mid-on before Jofra Archer dismissed with a bouncer Matthew Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.