Stokes Claims 6 Scalps in English Ashes Warm-up

Practice match, Lilac Hill (first day of three)

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

England XI: still to bat

The England captain achieved 6 scalps in his first action following July but England encountered an fitness worry regarding Mark Wood on the opening day of their Test preparation versus the development squad in Western Australia.

The England captain, returning after nearly four months away with a shoulder injury, bowled 16 overs across three bowling spells for his 6-52 against the Lions – each to catches taken on the on-side.

Pace bowler Wood, also making his comeback after 9 months out with a knee injury, delivered a scheduled amount of 8 overs before leaving the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring problem. He will undergo scanning on Friday.

Wood's injury removed the intensity out of the day, as the Lions were bowled out for three hundred eighty-two on a sluggish pitch after an automatic toss at the venue.

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

In a potential indication towards their opening Test strategy, the visiting team fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialist bowlers plus Stokes – and left off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in the Lions.

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

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

England's decision to play a solitary practice match against the development squad has been criticized by some ex-players but the captain responded by calling the doubters "former players".

A relaxed 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 packed Optus Stadium the following week.

Stokes was superb in the series 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 managed a full part in any of the team's past four series because of different fitness issues and the tourists' hopes of regaining the Ashes are vastly diminished if he is absent from any of the five Tests in the host country.

He has been bowling at full pace for two months and appeared in fine shape on Wednesday, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his dismissals were presented.

Jacks is not expected to feature in the first Test – England look to have shown their hand with the XI named here. Nevertheless, he may have moved himself in front of the struggling Bethell with his 84, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

Prior to the concern over Wood, the five fast bowlers in the England XI 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 place going to Josh Tongue. Tongue had Lions opener McKinney edging to the keeper just after the break.

Though the captain took the scalps, Archer caught the eye. He was lively with the new ball and once more after lunch, when he caused problems for Will Jacks.

In the absence of Shoaib Bashir and with Mark Wood leaving the field, Root was required to bowl fourteen overs of his spin bowling. It was mediocre fare, costing 117 runs at an run rate of over eight.

Joe Root at least claimed a scalp in the final session when Fisher unexpectedly hit a full toss to the fielder before Jofra Archer bounced out Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.