Ben Stokes Takes 6 Wickets in England Test Series Preparation Match

Practice match, Perth venue (day one of three)

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

England XI: awaiting batting

Ben Stokes delivered 6 scalps in his first action since July but England faced an fitness worry involving Mark Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up versus the development squad in Western Australia.

Stokes, making his comeback after almost four months out with a shoulder problem, bowled sixteen overs across three spells for his 6-52 versus England Lions – each to catches taken on the on-side.

Fast bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after 9 months out with a knee problem, bowled a scheduled amount of eight overs before exiting the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring problem. He will have a scan on the following day.

Wood's injury sucked the intensity out of the day, as the Lions were bowled out for 382 on a slow, low surface after an automatic toss at Lilac Hill.

The tourists aimed to field first to accumulate bowling time before the first Ashes Test at Optus Stadium, beginning on November 21st.

In a possible hint towards their opening Test strategy, the visiting team fielded an all-pace attack – four specialist bowlers plus the captain – and omitted spin bowler Bashir in the development squad.

Bethell didn't strengthen his case for selection in the Test side, making just two runs, but Will Jacks enhanced his claim to be called upon later in the tour by swiping eighty-four.

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

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

A low-pressure opening day in front of a small crowd of fans at the ground was certainly a different experience from what England will encounter at a sold-out main stadium next week.

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

The captain has not completed a complete participation in any of England's past four tours because of various injuries and the tourists' chances of winning back the Ashes are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five Tests in Australia.

He has been practicing at full pace for two months and looked in good condition on the match day, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his wickets were gifted.

Will Jacks is not expected to feature in the first Test – the team look to have revealed their hand with the XI named here. Nevertheless, he may have nudged himself ahead of the struggling Bethell with his 84, which came at almost a run a ball.

Even before the doubt over Mark Wood, the five seamers in the England XI for this game may not have been the attack for the initial match.

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

Though Stokes took the wickets, Archer impressed observers. He was lively with the new ball and again after the interval, when he discomforted Will Jacks.

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

Root at least claimed a scalp in the final session when Fisher unexpectedly hit a full toss to mid-on before Jofra Archer bounced out Matthew Potts for 53 with the final ball of the day.