Stokes Secures Six Wickets in English Ashes Warm-up

Practice game, Lilac Hill (first day of three)

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

England XI: awaiting batting

Ben Stokes achieved six wickets in his return to play after July but England encountered an fitness worry involving fast bowler Wood on the opening day of their Test preparation versus England Lions in Perth.

The England captain, making his comeback after almost four months away with a shoulder injury, delivered 16 overs across three spells for his six for fifty-two against England Lions – all to catches on the leg side.

Fast bowler Wood, also making his comeback after 9 months away with a knee problem, bowled a scheduled amount of eight overs before departing the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring issue. 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 uncontested toss at Lilac Hill.

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

In a potential indication towards their first-Test plans, the visiting team fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialist bowlers plus Stokes – and omitted spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in the development squad.

Jacob Bethell failed to press his case for inclusion in the Test team, making only two, but Jacks enhanced his claim to be selected during the series by scoring eighty-four.

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

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

A relaxed first day in front of a small crowd of fans at Lilac Hill was definitely a different experience from what England will encounter at a sold-out main stadium next week.

Stokes was superb in the contest against India in the home summer, only to push himself to breaking point. He missed the last match with a shoulder tear.

The captain has not completed a full part in any of England's past four series because of different fitness issues and the tourists' chances of winning back the Ashes are significantly reduced if he is absent from any of the five matches in the host country.

He has been practicing at maximum speed for two months and looked in fine shape on Wednesday, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his dismissals were presented.

Will Jacks is not expected to play in the opening match – England look to have shown their intentions with the XI named here. Nevertheless, he may have moved himself in front of the out-of-sorts Jacob Bethell with his 84, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

Even before the doubt over Wood, the five fast bowlers in the team lineup for this match may not have been the attack for the initial match.

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

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

In the omission of Bashir and with Wood leaving the field, Root was asked to deliver fourteen overs of his spin bowling. It was mediocre fare, conceding 117 runs at an run rate of over eight.

Joe Root at least claimed a wicket in the closing stages when Fisher unexpectedly hit a full delivery to the fielder before Archer dismissed with a bouncer Potts for fifty-three with the final ball of the day.