Ben Stokes Claims 6 Scalps in England Ashes Preparation Match

Tour match, Lilac Hill (day one of 3)

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

England XI: awaiting batting

Ben Stokes achieved 6 scalps in his initial appearance following July but England faced an injury concern regarding Mark Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up against the development squad in Western Australia.

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

Pace bowler Wood, himself returning after 9 months out with a knee injury, delivered a pre-planned number of eight overs before leaving the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring issue. He will undergo scanning on the following day.

Wood's injury drained the energy out of the day, as the Lions were bowled out for three hundred eighty-two on a slow track after an uncontested toss at the venue.

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

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

Bethell failed to press his claim for selection in the Test side, making only two, but Jacks enhanced his claim to be called upon later in the tour by hitting 84.

McKinney, Jordan Cox, 17-year-old Thomas Rew and Potts also made fifties.

The team's decision to play a solitary practice match against the Lions has been questioned by some former players but Stokes hit back by calling the doubters "has-beens".

A relaxed opening day in front of a smattering of fans at the ground was certainly a world away from what the team will encounter at a packed Optus Stadium the following week.

Stokes was superb in the series against India in the domestic season, only to push himself to injury. He was absent from the final Test with a shoulder tear.

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

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 dismissals were presented.

Jacks is unlikely to play in the opening match – the team look to have shown their hand with the eleven selected here. Nevertheless, he may have moved himself in front of the struggling Jacob Bethell with his 84, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

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

Carse was absent from the first day because of illness, with his position going to Tongue. Josh Tongue had Lions opener Ben McKinney caught behind just after the break.

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

In the omission of Shoaib Bashir and with Wood departing, Root was asked to bowl 14 overs of his off-spin. It was mediocre fare, conceding 117 at an economy of more than eight.

Root at least claimed a wicket in the final session when Matt Fisher somehow struck a full delivery to the fielder before Archer dismissed with a bouncer Matthew Potts for 53 with the final ball of the day.