Stokes Secures 6 Wickets in English Ashes Preparation Match

Practice match, Lilac Hill (first day of three)

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

National team: awaiting batting

Ben Stokes achieved six wickets in his initial appearance following July but the tourists faced an injury concern involving fast bowler Wood on the first day of their Test preparation against England Lions in Perth.

Stokes, returning after approximately four months out with a shoulder problem, bowled 16 overs across three spells for his six for fifty-two against the Lions – all to catches on the on-side.

Fast bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after nine months out with a knee injury, delivered a pre-planned number of 8 overs before departing the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring problem. He will have a scan on Friday.

Wood's injury removed the energy out of the day, as the Lions were dismissed for 382 on a sluggish pitch after an automatic 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 21 November.

In a possible hint towards their first-Test plans, the tourists selected an all-pace attack – four specialist bowlers plus the captain – and left off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in the Lions.

Jacob Bethell didn't strengthen his case for selection in the Test team, making just two runs, but Jacks enhanced his credentials to be called upon during the series by swiping eighty-four.

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

England's decision to play a single warm-up game against the development squad has been criticized by some ex-players but the captain hit back by calling the critics "former players".

A low-pressure opening day in front of a small crowd of spectators at Lilac Hill was definitely a different experience from what the team will face at a sold-out Optus Stadium next week.

Stokes was excellent in the series against the Indian team in the home summer, only to strain himself to breaking point. He was absent from the last match with a torn shoulder.

The captain has not completed a complete participation in any of the team's past four series because of different fitness issues and the team's chances of regaining the series are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five matches in the host country.

He has been bowling at full pace for two months and looked in good condition on Wednesday, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his dismissals were gifted.

Jacks is unlikely to play in the first Test – England look to have revealed their hand with the eleven selected here. Still, he may have moved himself in front of the struggling Jacob Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

Prior to the concern over Wood, the five seamers in the team lineup for this game may not have been the attack for the initial match.

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

Though the captain took the scalps, Jofra Archer impressed observers. He was lively with the new ball and again after lunch, when he caused problems for Will Jacks.

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

Joe Root at least claimed a wicket in the final session when Matt 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.