Ben Stokes Secures Six Scalps in England Ashes Preparation Match

Tour game, Lilac Hill (first day of 3)

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

National team: yet to bat

The England captain achieved six wickets in his initial appearance since July but England faced an fitness worry about Mark Wood on the first day of their Test preparation against the development squad in Western Australia.

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

Fast bowler Mark Wood, also making his comeback after 9 months away with a knee injury, delivered a pre-planned number of 8 overs before departing the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring problem. He will receive scanning on the following day.

The Wood situation drained the energy out of the day, as the England Lions were bowled out for 382 on a slow, low surface after an uncontested toss at Lilac Hill.

England aimed to field first to get overs in their legs before the first Ashes Test 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 specialists plus Stokes – and left off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in the Lions.

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

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

England's decision to play a single practice match against the development squad has been questioned by some former players but Stokes responded by labeling the doubters "past players".

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

The captain was superb in the series against the Indian team in the home summer, only to strain himself to breaking point. He was absent from the final Test with a shoulder tear.

The captain has not completed a complete participation in any of England's previous four tours because of different fitness issues and the tourists' chances of winning back the Ashes are significantly reduced if he is absent from any of the five matches in the host country.

He has been bowling at maximum speed for 60 days and appeared in good condition on Wednesday, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his dismissals were presented.

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

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

Brydon Carse missed the opening day because of illness, with his place going to Josh Tongue. Josh Tongue had Lions opener McKinney caught behind just after the break.

Though Stokes took the wickets, Archer impressed observers. He was lively with the fresh ball and once more after the interval, when he discomforted Jacks.

In the absence of Shoaib Bashir and with Mark Wood departing, Root was asked to bowl 14 overs of his off-spin. It was mediocre fare, conceding 117 runs at an run rate of over eight.

Joe Root at least claimed a wicket in the closing stages when Matt Fisher somehow struck a full toss to mid-on before Jofra Archer dismissed with a bouncer Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.