Stokes Secures Six Scalps in England Ashes Preparation Match

Tour match, Lilac Hill (first day of 3)

Development squad 382: Jacks 84, Ben McKinney 67; Stokes 6-52

National team: still to bat

The England captain produced six wickets in his initial appearance after July but England faced an injury concern about Mark Wood on the first day of their Test preparation versus England Lions in Perth.

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

Fast bowler Wood, also making his comeback after nine months out with a knee problem, delivered a pre-planned number of 8 overs before leaving the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring issue. He will receive scanning on the following day.

The Wood situation sucked the intensity out of the day, as the England Lions were dismissed for three hundred eighty-two on a slow track after an uncontested toss at Lilac Hill.

England wanted to bowl first to accumulate bowling time before the initial Test match at Optus Stadium, starting on November 21st.

In a potential indication towards their opening Test strategy, the visiting team selected an all-pace attack – four specialist bowlers plus the captain – and left spin bowler Bashir in the development squad.

Jacob Bethell failed to press his case for selection in the Test side, making only two, but Will Jacks enhanced his claim to be called upon during the series by hitting 84.

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

England's plan to play a single warm-up game against the Lions has been questioned by some ex-players but Stokes hit back by labeling the critics "former players".

A relaxed opening day in front of a small crowd of spectators at the ground was definitely a different experience from what England will face at a packed Optus Stadium the following week.

The captain 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 shoulder tear.

The skipper has not completed a full part in any of the team's past four tours because of various injuries and the tourists' hopes of regaining the series are significantly reduced if he is absent from any of the five Tests in Australia.

He has been bowling at maximum speed for two months and appeared in fine shape on Wednesday, even if he could not comprehend 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 hand with the XI named here. Nevertheless, he may have moved himself in front of the out-of-sorts Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

Even before the concern over Wood, the five seamers in the team lineup for this match may not have been the bowling unit for the initial match.

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

Although the captain took the scalps, Archer caught the eye. He was lively with the fresh ball and once more after the interval, when he caused problems for Jacks.

In the absence of Shoaib Bashir and with Wood leaving the field, Joe Root was required to bowl 14 overs of his off-spin. It was mediocre fare, conceding 117 at an run rate of more than eight.

Joe Root at least claimed a wicket in the closing stages when Fisher unexpectedly struck a full toss to the fielder before Archer bounced out Matthew Potts for 53 with the final ball of the day.