Ben Stokes Takes Six Wickets in England Ashes Preparation Match

Tour match, Perth venue (first day of 3)

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

England XI: yet to bat

Ben Stokes achieved six wickets in his initial appearance since July but the tourists encountered an fitness worry regarding Mark Wood on the opening day of their Test preparation against the development squad in Western Australia.

Stokes, returning after approximately four months away with a shoulder injury, delivered 16 overs across three bowling spells for his six for fifty-two versus England Lions – all to catches taken on the on-side.

Pace bowler Wood, himself returning after 9 months away with a knee problem, bowled 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 the following day.

Wood's injury drained the intensity out of the day, as the England Lions were dismissed for 382 on a sluggish pitch after an uncontested toss at the venue.

England wanted to bowl first to get overs in their legs before the first Ashes Test at Optus Stadium, starting on 21 November.

In a possible hint towards their first-Test plans, the visiting team selected an fast bowling lineup – four specialists plus Stokes – 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 Will Jacks enhanced his credentials to be selected during the series by swiping eighty-four.

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

England's decision to play a single warm-up game against the Lions has been questioned by some former players but the captain hit back by labeling the critics "has-beens".

A relaxed opening day in front of a smattering of spectators at the ground was definitely a different experience from what England will face at a packed Optus Stadium next week.

The captain was superb in the series against India in the domestic season, only to strain himself to injury. He was absent from the last match with a shoulder tear.

The skipper has not managed a complete participation in any of England's previous four series because of various injuries and the team's chances of regaining the Ashes are vastly diminished if he misses any of the five matches in the host country.

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

Jacks is unlikely to play in the opening match – the team look to have shown their hand with the XI named here. Still, he may have moved himself in front of the struggling Jacob Bethell with his 84, which came at almost a run a ball.

Prior to the doubt over Wood, the five seamers in the England XI for this game may not have been the attack for the first Test.

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

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

In the absence of Bashir and with Mark Wood departing, Root was asked to bowl fourteen overs of his off-spin. It was mediocre fare, costing 117 runs at an economy of more than eight.

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