Stokes Claims 6 Wickets in English Ashes Preparation Match

Practice match, Lilac Hill (first day of three)

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

England XI: still to bat

Ben Stokes produced six wickets in his return to play after July but the tourists faced an fitness worry about fast bowler Wood on the first day of their Test preparation against England Lions in Western Australia.

Stokes, returning after approximately four months away with a shoulder problem, delivered 16 overs across three spells for his 6-52 against the Lions – all to catches taken on the leg side.

Pace bowler Mark 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 post-lunch session because of a hamstring problem. He will receive scanning on the following day.

The Wood situation sucked the intensity out of the day, as the England Lions were dismissed for three hundred eighty-two on a sluggish pitch after an automatic toss at the venue.

The tourists aimed to field first to accumulate bowling time before the initial Test match at the main venue, starting on 21 November.

In a potential indication towards their first-Test plans, the tourists fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialists plus Stokes – and omitted off-spinner Bashir in the development squad.

Bethell didn't strengthen his case for inclusion in the Test team, making only two, but Jacks boosted his claim to be selected later in the tour by hitting eighty-four.

McKinney, Jordan Cox, teenage Thomas Rew and Potts also made half-centuries.

The team's plan to play a single warm-up game against the Lions has been criticized by some former players but Stokes hit back by calling the critics "past players".

A relaxed first day in front of a small crowd of fans at Lilac Hill was definitely a different experience from what the team will face at a sold-out main stadium next week.

Stokes was excellent in the contest against the Indian team in the domestic season, only to strain himself to injury. He was absent from the final Test with a shoulder tear.

The captain has not managed a complete participation in any of England's past four series because of different fitness issues and the team's hopes of regaining the series are significantly reduced if he is absent from any of the five matches in Australia.

He has been bowling at full pace for 60 days and looked in fine shape on Wednesday, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his dismissals were gifted.

Jacks is not expected to feature in the first Test – England look to have shown their intentions with the eleven named here. Nevertheless, he may have moved himself in front of the struggling 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 attack for the initial match.

Brydon Carse missed the first day because of sickness, with his place going to Tongue. Josh Tongue had Lions opener Ben McKinney edging to the keeper just after lunch.

Although Stokes took the wickets, Jofra Archer impressed observers. He was energetic with the fresh ball and once more after the interval, when he discomforted Will Jacks.

In the omission of Shoaib Bashir and with Mark Wood leaving the field, Joe Root was asked to bowl 14 overs of his off-spin. It was average performance, conceding 117 runs at an economy of over eight.

Root at least claimed a wicket in the closing stages when Matt Fisher unexpectedly hit a full toss to mid-on before Jofra Archer bounced out Matthew Potts for fifty-three with the final ball of the day.