Stokes Takes 6 Wickets in English Ashes Preparation Match

Tour game, Perth venue (first day of three)

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

National team: awaiting batting

The England captain produced 6 scalps in his initial appearance since July but England faced an injury concern about fast bowler Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up versus England Lions in Perth.

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

Fast bowler Wood, also making his comeback after nine months out with a knee problem, bowled a scheduled amount of 8 overs before departing the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring issue. He will receive scanning on Friday.

The Wood situation removed the energy out of the day, as the England Lions were dismissed for three hundred eighty-two on a sluggish pitch after an automatic toss at the venue.

The tourists wanted to field first to build bowling fitness before the initial Test match at Optus Stadium, starting on 21 November.

In a potential indication towards their first-Test plans, the tourists selected an all-pace attack – four specialists plus the captain – and left spin bowler Bashir in the Lions.

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

McKinney, Cox, 17-year-old Thomas Rew and Matthew Potts also made fifties.

The team's decision to play a solitary warm-up game against the development squad has been criticized by some ex-players but Stokes hit back by labeling the doubters "has-beens".

A low-pressure opening day in front of a small crowd of spectators at the ground was certainly a world away from what the team will encounter at a sold-out main stadium next week.

Stokes was excellent in the series against the Indian team in the domestic season, only to strain himself to breaking point. He missed the final Test with a shoulder tear.

The skipper has not completed a full part in any of the team's previous four series because of various injuries and the tourists' chances of winning back the series are vastly diminished if he misses any of the five Tests in Australia.

He has been practicing at maximum speed for 60 days and looked in fine shape on Wednesday, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his dismissals were presented.

Jacks is unlikely to play in the opening match – the team look to have shown their intentions with the eleven selected here. Still, he may have nudged himself ahead of the out-of-sorts Jacob Bethell with his 84, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

Prior to the doubt over Wood, the five fast bowlers in the England XI for this match may not have been the bowling unit for the first Test.

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

Though Stokes took the scalps, Archer caught the eye. He was energetic with the fresh ball and once more after lunch, when he discomforted Will Jacks.

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

Root at least took a wicket in the final session when Matt Fisher somehow hit a full toss to mid-on before Jofra Archer dismissed with a bouncer Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.