Stokes Claims Six Wickets in English Ashes Warm-up

Tour match, Lilac Hill (first day of 3)

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

England XI: still to bat

Ben Stokes produced six wickets in his initial appearance following July but England faced an injury concern involving Mark Wood on the first day of their Test preparation versus the development squad in Perth.

Stokes, making his comeback after approximately four months away with a shoulder injury, delivered 16 overs across three spells for his six for fifty-two versus the Lions – each to catches on the leg side.

Pace bowler Wood, himself returning after nine months away with a knee problem, bowled a scheduled amount of eight overs before leaving the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring problem. He will undergo scanning on the following day.

The Wood situation sucked the intensity out of the day, as the England Lions were dismissed for 382 on a slow track after an automatic toss at Lilac Hill.

England wanted to bowl first to get overs in their legs before the initial Test match at the main venue, starting on November 21st.

In a possible hint towards their first-Test plans, the tourists fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialists plus Stokes – and omitted off-spinner Bashir in the Lions.

Bethell didn't strengthen his case for selection in the Test team, making only two, but Will Jacks enhanced his claim to be called upon later in the tour by scoring 84.

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

England's plan to play a solitary practice match against the Lions has been questioned by some former players but Stokes responded by calling the critics "past players".

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 main stadium next week.

Stokes was superb in the contest against India in the domestic season, only to push himself to breaking point. He missed the last match with a torn shoulder.

The captain has not managed a full part in any of the team's previous four tours because of different fitness issues and the tourists' hopes of winning back the series are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five Tests in Australia.

He has been practicing at full pace for two months 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.

Will Jacks is unlikely to feature in the first Test – the team look to have revealed their intentions with the XI named here. Still, he may have nudged himself ahead of the struggling Jacob Bethell with his 84, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

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

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

Though the captain took the wickets, Archer impressed observers. He was lively with the fresh ball and once more after lunch, when he caused problems for Jacks.

In the omission of Shoaib Bashir and with Mark Wood leaving the field, Root was asked to bowl fourteen overs of his spin bowling. It was mediocre fare, costing 117 at an economy of over eight.

Root at least claimed a scalp in the final session when Fisher unexpectedly 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.