Ben Stokes Takes Six Wickets in England Ashes Preparation Match

Practice match, Lilac Hill (first day of three)

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

National team: yet to bat

The England captain produced 6 scalps in his initial appearance after July but England faced an fitness worry about Mark Wood on the opening day of their Test preparation versus the development squad in Western Australia.

The England captain, making his comeback after nearly four months out with a shoulder problem, bowled 16 overs across three bowling spells for his six for fifty-two against the Lions – all to catches on the leg side.

Fast bowler Wood, himself returning after nine months out with a knee problem, delivered a scheduled amount of eight overs before exiting the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring issue. He will receive scanning on the following day.

Wood's injury sucked the energy out of the day, as the England Lions were dismissed for three hundred eighty-two on a slow, low surface after an automatic toss at Lilac Hill.

England aimed to bowl first to build bowling fitness before the first Ashes Test at the main venue, beginning on 21 November.

In a possible hint towards their opening Test strategy, the tourists selected an all-pace attack – four specialists plus Stokes – and left spin bowler Bashir in the Lions.

Jacob Bethell failed to press his case for selection in the Test team, making just two runs, but Will Jacks boosted his credentials to be selected during the series by hitting 84.

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

England's plan to play a single warm-up game against the development squad has been criticized by some ex-players but the captain hit back by calling the doubters "has-beens".

A relaxed opening day in front of a smattering of fans at Lilac Hill was certainly 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 strain himself to breaking point. He was absent from the last match with a torn shoulder.

The captain has not managed a full part in any of England's past four series 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 matches in Australia.

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

Will Jacks is unlikely to feature in the first Test – the team look to have revealed their intentions with the eleven named here. Nevertheless, he may have nudged himself ahead of the out-of-sorts Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

Prior to 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 sickness, with his place going to Tongue. Tongue had opening batsman Ben McKinney edging to the keeper just after lunch.

Although Stokes took the scalps, Archer caught the eye. He was lively with the new ball and once more after the interval, when he discomforted Will Jacks.

In the absence of Bashir and with Mark Wood leaving the field, Root was asked to deliver 14 overs of his off-spin. It was average performance, conceding 117 at an run rate of over eight.

Joe Root at least claimed a scalp in the closing stages when Matt Fisher unexpectedly struck a full delivery to the fielder before Archer dismissed with a bouncer Matthew Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.