Stokes Secures 6 Wickets in English Ashes Preparation Match

Tour match, Lilac Hill (first day of three)

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

England XI: awaiting batting

The England captain delivered six wickets in his first action since July but England faced an injury concern regarding Mark Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up versus England Lions in Perth.

The England captain, returning after nearly four months out with a shoulder problem, delivered sixteen overs across three bowling spells for his six for fifty-two against England Lions – each to catches on the leg side.

Pace bowler Wood, also making his comeback after 9 months away with a knee injury, bowled a scheduled amount of eight overs before leaving the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring issue. He will have a scan on the following day.

The Wood situation removed the energy out of the day, as the Lions were dismissed for 382 on a slow, low surface after an automatic toss at Lilac Hill.

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

In a possible hint towards their first-Test plans, the tourists selected an fast bowling lineup – four specialist bowlers plus the captain – and omitted off-spinner Bashir in the development squad.

Jacob Bethell failed to press his claim for inclusion in the Test team, making just two runs, but Jacks enhanced his claim to be called upon during the series by hitting 84.

McKinney, Cox, teenage Rew and Matthew Potts also made fifties.

England's plan to play a solitary warm-up game against the Lions has been criticized by some ex-players but Stokes responded by calling the doubters "has-beens".

A low-pressure first day in front of a smattering of spectators at Lilac Hill was certainly a world away from what England will encounter at a packed Optus Stadium next week.

The captain was excellent in the contest against the Indian team in the home summer, only to push himself to breaking point. He missed the final Test with a torn shoulder.

The skipper has not managed 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 vastly diminished if he misses any of the five Tests in Australia.

He has been practicing at maximum speed for two months and looked in good condition on the match day, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his dismissals were gifted.

Will Jacks is unlikely to play in the first Test – England look to have revealed their hand with the XI named here. Nevertheless, he may have nudged himself in front of the out-of-sorts Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

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

Carse was absent from the opening day because of illness, with his place going to Josh Tongue. Josh Tongue had opening batsman Ben McKinney caught behind just after the break.

Though the captain took the wickets, Jofra Archer caught the eye. He was lively with the fresh ball and again after lunch, when he caused problems for Will Jacks.

In the absence of Shoaib Bashir and with Wood departing, Joe Root was required to deliver fourteen overs of his off-spin. It was average performance, conceding 117 at an economy of more than eight.

Root at least claimed a scalp in the final session when Fisher somehow struck a full delivery to the fielder before Jofra Archer bounced out Potts for 53 with the final ball of the day.