Stokes Takes Six Wickets in English Ashes Preparation Match

Practice game, Lilac Hill (day one of 3)

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

National team: yet to bat

The England captain delivered 6 scalps in his return to play after July but England faced an fitness worry regarding Mark Wood on the first day of their Test preparation against England Lions in Western Australia.

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

Fast bowler Wood, also making his comeback after 9 months away with a knee problem, delivered a pre-planned number of eight overs before departing the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring issue. He will undergo scanning on Friday.

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

The tourists aimed to bowl first to accumulate bowling time before the initial Test match at the main venue, beginning on 21 November.

In a potential indication towards their opening Test strategy, the tourists selected an all-pace attack – four specialist bowlers plus the captain – and left off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in the Lions.

Jacob Bethell didn't strengthen his case for inclusion in the Test side, making just two runs, but Jacks enhanced his claim to be called upon later in the tour by swiping 84.

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

England's plan to play a single warm-up game against the Lions has been criticized by some former players but the captain responded by labeling the doubters "past players".

A relaxed first day in front of a small crowd of fans at the ground was certainly a different experience from what the team will face at a packed Optus Stadium the following week.

Stokes was superb in the contest against India in the domestic season, only to push himself to breaking point. He was absent from the last match with a torn shoulder.

The captain has not completed a complete participation in any of the team's past four series because of various injuries and the tourists' chances of winning back the Ashes are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five Tests in Australia.

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

Will Jacks is not expected to play in the first Test – England look to have revealed their hand 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 game may not have been the attack for the first Test.

Brydon Carse was absent from the opening day because of illness, with his place going to Josh Tongue. Tongue had Lions opener Ben McKinney edging to the keeper just after lunch.

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

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

Joe Root at least took a wicket in the final session when Fisher unexpectedly hit a full toss to mid-on before Archer bounced out Matthew Potts for fifty-three with the final ball of the day.