Stokes Takes Six Wickets in England Ashes Preparation Match

Tour match, Lilac Hill (day one of three)

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

National team: yet to bat

Ben Stokes delivered 6 scalps in his first action since July but the tourists encountered an injury concern about Mark Wood on the opening day of their Test preparation against England Lions in Western Australia.

The England captain, making his comeback after almost four months out with a shoulder problem, bowled 16 overs across three spells for his six for fifty-two versus the Lions – all to catches on the leg side.

Fast bowler Wood, himself returning after nine months away with a knee injury, bowled a scheduled amount of eight overs before departing the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring problem. He will undergo scanning on Friday.

The Wood situation drained the energy out of the day, as the England Lions were bowled out for three hundred eighty-two on a sluggish pitch after an uncontested toss at the venue.

The tourists aimed to field first to get overs in their legs before the initial Test match at Optus Stadium, beginning on 21 November.

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

Jacob Bethell didn't strengthen his claim for selection in the Test team, making only two, but Will Jacks boosted his credentials to be called upon during the series by scoring 84.

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

The team's plan to play a single warm-up game against the development squad has been questioned by some former players but Stokes responded by calling the critics "has-beens".

A relaxed opening day in front of a small crowd of spectators at the ground was certainly a world away from what England will encounter at a packed Optus Stadium next week.

Stokes was superb in the contest against India in the domestic season, only to strain himself to injury. He missed the last match with a shoulder tear.

The captain has not managed a complete participation in any of the team's past four series because of various injuries and the team's chances of winning back the Ashes are vastly diminished if he misses any of the five Tests in the host country.

He has been bowling at full pace for two months and appeared in fine shape on Wednesday, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his wickets were gifted.

Will Jacks is not expected to play in the first Test – the team look to have revealed their hand with the eleven selected here. Still, he may have nudged himself ahead of the out-of-sorts Jacob Bethell with his 84, which came at almost a run a ball.

Prior to the doubt over Mark Wood, the five fast bowlers in the England XI for this game may not have been the bowling unit for the initial match.

Brydon Carse missed the first day because of illness, with his position going to Tongue. Tongue had opening batsman McKinney caught behind just after the break.

Although Stokes took the wickets, Jofra Archer caught the eye. He was energetic with the fresh ball and once more after the interval, when he caused problems for Will Jacks.

In the omission of Bashir and with Wood departing, Root was required to deliver fourteen overs of his off-spin. It was average performance, costing 117 runs at an run rate of over eight.

Root at least took a wicket in the closing stages when Fisher somehow hit a full delivery to the fielder before Archer dismissed with a bouncer Matthew Potts for fifty-three with the final ball of the day.