Stokes Takes Six Wickets in English Ashes Preparation Match

Tour match, Perth venue (first day of three)

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

England XI: awaiting batting

Ben Stokes delivered six wickets in his return to play since July but England faced an injury concern about Mark Wood on the opening day of their Test preparation against England Lions in Western Australia.

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

Fast bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after nine months out with a knee problem, delivered a scheduled amount of eight overs before exiting the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring issue. He will have a scan on Friday.

Wood's injury removed the intensity out of the day, as the England Lions were bowled out for three hundred eighty-two on a slow, low surface after an uncontested toss at Lilac Hill.

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

In a potential indication towards their opening Test strategy, the tourists selected an all-pace attack – four specialist bowlers plus Stokes – and left off-spinner Bashir in the development squad.

Bethell didn't strengthen his case for selection in the Test side, making just two runs, but Jacks boosted his credentials to be selected later in the tour by hitting 84.

Ben McKinney, Cox, teenage Rew and Potts also scored half-centuries.

England's plan to play a solitary warm-up game against the development squad has been questioned by some former players but Stokes hit back by calling the critics "past players".

A relaxed first day in front of a smattering of spectators at the ground was certainly a world away from what England will face at a sold-out main stadium the following week.

Stokes was superb in the series against India in the home summer, only to push himself to injury. He missed the last match with a torn shoulder.

The skipper has not completed a full part in any of the team's past four tours because of different fitness issues and the team's chances of winning back the Ashes are vastly diminished if he is absent from any of the five Tests in the host country.

He has been practicing at full pace for 60 days and appeared in good condition on the match day, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his wickets were gifted.

Jacks is not expected to play in the opening match – England look to have revealed their intentions with the eleven named here. Still, he may have moved himself in front of the struggling Jacob Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at almost a run a ball.

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

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

Although the captain took the wickets, Archer caught the eye. He was lively with the new ball and again after the interval, when he caused problems for Jacks.

In the omission of Bashir and with Mark Wood leaving the field, Root was required to bowl fourteen overs of his spin bowling. It was average performance, conceding 117 at an run rate of more than eight.

Joe Root at least claimed a scalp in the final session when Fisher somehow hit a full delivery to the fielder before Jofra Archer dismissed with a bouncer Matthew Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.