Stokes Secures 6 Scalps in English Ashes Preparation Match

Tour game, Lilac Hill (first day of three)

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

National team: awaiting batting

Ben Stokes achieved six wickets in his initial appearance after July but England faced an fitness worry about fast bowler Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up versus England Lions in Perth.

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

Fast bowler Wood, also making his comeback after 9 months away with a knee injury, delivered a pre-planned number of eight overs before exiting the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring problem. He will have a scan on Friday.

The Wood situation drained the energy out of the day, as the England Lions were bowled out for 382 on a slow, low surface after an uncontested toss at Lilac Hill.

England wanted to field first to build bowling fitness before the first Ashes Test at the main venue, starting on November 21st.

In a possible hint towards their opening Test strategy, the tourists selected an all-pace attack – four specialist bowlers plus Stokes – and left spin bowler Bashir in the development squad.

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

Ben McKinney, Cox, 17-year-old Thomas Rew and Matthew Potts also made half-centuries.

England's decision to play a solitary practice match against the Lions has been criticized by some former players but Stokes hit back by labeling the doubters "has-beens".

A low-pressure first day in front of a small crowd of spectators at Lilac Hill was definitely a world away from what England will encounter at a packed main stadium next week.

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

The skipper has not completed a complete participation in any of England's past four series because of various injuries and the team's chances of winning back the series are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five matches in the host country.

He has been practicing at full pace for two months and appeared in good condition on Wednesday, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his wickets were presented.

Jacks is not expected to play in the opening match – England look to have shown their hand with the eleven named here. Nevertheless, he may have nudged himself ahead of the out-of-sorts Jacob Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at almost a run a ball.

Prior to the concern over Mark Wood, the five fast bowlers in the team lineup for this match may not have been the bowling unit for the initial match.

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

Though the captain took the scalps, Jofra Archer impressed observers. He was lively with the fresh ball and again after lunch, when he discomforted Jacks.

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

Joe Root at least claimed a wicket in the closing stages when Matt Fisher somehow hit a full toss to the fielder before Archer bounced out Matthew Potts for fifty-three with the last delivery of the day.