Ben Stokes Claims 6 Wickets in England Ashes Preparation Match

Tour match, Perth venue (first day of 3)

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

National team: yet to bat

Ben Stokes produced 6 scalps in his initial appearance after July but the tourists encountered an fitness worry involving fast bowler Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up versus England Lions in Western Australia.

The England captain, returning after approximately four months away with a shoulder problem, bowled sixteen overs across three spells for his six for fifty-two versus the Lions – each to catches taken on the leg side.

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

Wood's injury drained the energy out of the day, as the England Lions were bowled out for three hundred eighty-two on a sluggish pitch after an uncontested toss at Lilac Hill.

England aimed to field first to accumulate bowling time before the first Ashes Test at the main venue, starting 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 off-spinner Bashir in the development squad.

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

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

The team's plan to play a solitary practice match against the Lions has been criticized by some former players but Stokes hit back by labeling the critics "former players".

A relaxed opening day in front of a smattering of spectators at the ground was certainly a world away from what the team will face at a packed Optus Stadium the following week.

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

The skipper has not completed a full part in any of England's previous four tours because of various injuries and the tourists' hopes of regaining the series are vastly diminished if he misses any of the five Tests in the host country.

He has been bowling at maximum speed for two months and looked in fine shape on Wednesday, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his dismissals were presented.

Will Jacks is unlikely to feature in the first Test – the team look to have shown their intentions with the XI named here. Nevertheless, he may have moved himself ahead of the struggling Bethell with his 84, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

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

Carse was absent from the first day because of illness, with his place going to Tongue. Tongue had Lions opener Ben McKinney caught behind just after the break.

Though the captain 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 Wood departing, Root was required to bowl fourteen overs of his off-spin. It was mediocre fare, costing 117 at an run rate of over eight.

Joe Root at least claimed a wicket in the closing stages when Matt Fisher unexpectedly struck a full delivery to mid-on before Jofra Archer dismissed with a bouncer Potts for fifty-three with the last delivery of the day.