Ben Stokes Claims 6 Wickets in English Ashes Preparation Match

Tour game, Lilac Hill (first day of three)

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

England XI: yet to bat

The England captain delivered six wickets in his return to play after July but England faced an injury concern regarding Mark Wood on the opening day of their Test preparation against England Lions in Perth.

The England captain, returning after nearly four months out with a shoulder problem, delivered sixteen overs across three spells for his six for fifty-two against England Lions – all to catches on the on-side.

Pace bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after nine months away with a knee injury, bowled a scheduled amount of eight overs before leaving the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring problem. He will receive scanning on the following day.

The Wood situation sucked the energy out of the day, as the Lions were bowled out for 382 on a sluggish pitch after an automatic toss at the venue.

England wanted to bowl first to build bowling fitness before the first Ashes Test at Optus Stadium, beginning on November 21st.

In a potential indication towards their opening Test strategy, the tourists fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialists plus Stokes – and omitted off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in the development squad.

Bethell didn't strengthen his claim for inclusion in the Test team, making just two runs, but Jacks enhanced his credentials to be selected during the series by hitting 84.

Ben McKinney, Jordan Cox, 17-year-old Thomas Rew and Potts also scored half-centuries.

England's decision to play a single warm-up game against the development squad has been criticized by some ex-players but Stokes responded by labeling the critics "former players".

A low-pressure opening day in front of a small crowd of fans at the ground was definitely a world away from what England will face at a packed main stadium the following week.

Stokes 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 torn shoulder.

The captain has not completed a complete participation in any of England's previous four tours because of different fitness issues and the team's chances 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 looked in good condition on Wednesday, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his wickets were gifted.

Jacks is not expected to play in the opening match – England look to have revealed their hand with the eleven named here. Still, he may have nudged himself ahead of the out-of-sorts Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at almost a run a ball.

Prior to the doubt over Wood, the five fast bowlers in the England XI for this match may not have been the attack for the initial match.

Carse missed the opening day because of sickness, with his place going to Josh Tongue. Josh Tongue had opening batsman Ben McKinney caught behind just after the break.

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

In the omission of Shoaib Bashir and with Wood leaving the field, Root was required to deliver fourteen overs of his spin bowling. It was average performance, conceding 117 runs at an economy of more than eight.

Root at least claimed a scalp in the final session when Matt Fisher unexpectedly struck a full toss to mid-on before Archer dismissed with a bouncer Matthew Potts for 53 with the final ball of the day.