Stokes Claims 6 Wickets in English Ashes Preparation Match

Tour match, Lilac Hill (first day of 3)

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

England XI: still to bat

Ben Stokes produced six wickets in his initial appearance since July but England encountered an fitness worry regarding Mark Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up versus England Lions in Western Australia.

Stokes, making his comeback after nearly four months out with a shoulder problem, delivered 16 overs across three spells for his six for fifty-two against England Lions – all to catches on the on-side.

Pace bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after 9 months away with a knee problem, bowled a scheduled amount of 8 overs before leaving the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring problem. He will have a scan on Friday.

The Wood situation sucked the energy out of the day, as the Lions were dismissed for 382 on a slow track after an uncontested toss at Lilac Hill.

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

In a possible hint towards their opening Test strategy, the visiting team fielded an all-pace attack – four specialist bowlers plus Stokes – and omitted off-spinner Bashir in the development squad.

Jacob Bethell failed to press his claim for inclusion in the Test side, making just two runs, but Will Jacks boosted his claim to be selected during the series by hitting eighty-four.

McKinney, Jordan Cox, 17-year-old Rew and Potts also made fifties.

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

A relaxed first day in front of a small crowd of fans at Lilac Hill was definitely a different experience from what England will face at a packed Optus Stadium the following week.

The captain was superb 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 managed a complete participation in any of the team's past four series because of different fitness issues and the tourists' hopes of winning back the series are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five Tests in Australia.

He has been practicing at maximum speed for 60 days and appeared in fine shape on Wednesday, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his dismissals were gifted.

Will Jacks is unlikely to play in the opening match – England look to have revealed their intentions with the eleven selected here. Nevertheless, he may have nudged himself in front of the struggling Bethell with his 84, which came at almost a run a ball.

Even before the doubt over Mark Wood, the five seamers in the team lineup for this match may not have been the bowling unit for the first Test.

Brydon Carse was absent from the first day because of illness, with his position going to Josh Tongue. Josh Tongue had opening batsman McKinney caught behind just after lunch.

Though the captain took the scalps, Archer caught the eye. He was lively with the new ball and once more after the interval, when he caused problems for Will Jacks.

In the omission of Shoaib Bashir and with Wood departing, Root was required to deliver 14 overs of his off-spin. It was mediocre fare, costing 117 at an economy of over eight.

Root at least took a wicket in the closing stages when Fisher somehow hit a full delivery to mid-on before Archer dismissed with a bouncer Matthew Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.