Ben Stokes Secures Six Scalps in English Ashes Preparation Match

Tour match, Perth venue (day one of three)

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

England XI: yet to bat

Ben Stokes delivered six wickets in his initial appearance after July but the tourists encountered an fitness worry regarding Mark Wood on the first day of their Test preparation versus England Lions in Perth.

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

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

The Wood situation removed the intensity out of the day, as the Lions were dismissed for three hundred eighty-two on a slow, low surface after an automatic toss at the venue.

England aimed to field first to get overs in their legs 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 selected an fast bowling lineup – four specialists plus Stokes – and left off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in the development squad.

Jacob Bethell didn't strengthen his case for selection in the Test team, making only two, but Will Jacks enhanced his credentials to be called upon later in the tour by hitting 84.

Ben McKinney, Cox, teenage Thomas Rew and Potts also scored half-centuries.

England's plan to play a solitary warm-up game against the Lions has been questioned by some former players but Stokes responded by calling the critics "former players".

A low-pressure first day in front of a smattering of fans at Lilac Hill was definitely a world away from what the team will encounter at a sold-out main stadium the following week.

The captain was excellent in the series against India in the domestic season, only to push himself to breaking point. He was absent from the final Test with a torn shoulder.

The skipper has not managed a full part in any of England's past four tours because of various injuries and the tourists' chances 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 60 days and looked in good condition on the match day, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his dismissals were gifted.

Will Jacks is unlikely to play in the first Test – England look to have revealed their hand with the eleven named here. Nevertheless, he may have moved himself ahead of the out-of-sorts Bethell with his 84, which came at almost a run a ball.

Even before the doubt over Wood, the five fast bowlers in the England XI for this match may not have been the bowling unit for the first Test.

Brydon Carse missed the first day because of sickness, with his position going to Josh Tongue. Tongue had Lions opener Ben 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 discomforted Will Jacks.

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

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