Ben Stokes Claims 6 Wickets in English Test Series Preparation Match

Practice match, Lilac Hill (day one of 3)

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

England XI: awaiting batting

Ben Stokes achieved 6 scalps in his initial appearance following July but the tourists faced an fitness worry regarding fast bowler Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up versus the development squad in Western Australia.

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

Fast bowler Wood, himself returning after 9 months away with a knee problem, delivered a scheduled amount of eight overs before leaving the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring problem. He will receive scanning on the following day.

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

England wanted to field first to get overs in their legs before the initial Test match at Optus Stadium, beginning on November 21st.

In a possible hint towards their opening Test strategy, the visiting team 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 selection in the Test team, making just two runs, but Jacks enhanced his credentials to be called upon later in the tour by scoring 84.

McKinney, 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 Lions has been criticized by some ex-players but Stokes hit back by labeling the doubters "past players".

A relaxed opening day in front of a small crowd of spectators at the ground was definitely a different experience from what the team will encounter at a sold-out main stadium next week.

The captain was superb in the contest against the Indian team in the domestic season, only to push himself to injury. He was absent from the last match with a torn shoulder.

The skipper has not completed a complete participation in any of the team's past four series because of various injuries and the team's hopes of regaining the Ashes are vastly diminished if he is absent from any of the five matches in Australia.

He has been bowling at maximum speed for two months and appeared in good condition on Wednesday, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his dismissals were gifted.

Jacks is unlikely to play in the opening match – the team look to have shown their hand with the XI named here. Nevertheless, he may have moved himself in front of the out-of-sorts Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

Even before the doubt over Wood, the five fast bowlers 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 illness, with his position going to Josh Tongue. Tongue had opening batsman McKinney edging to the keeper just after lunch.

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

In the absence of Shoaib Bashir and with Mark Wood departing, Joe Root was asked to bowl fourteen overs of his spin bowling. It was average performance, costing 117 runs at an economy of more than eight.

Root at least claimed a wicket in the closing stages when Fisher unexpectedly hit a full delivery to mid-on before Archer dismissed with a bouncer Matthew Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.