Stokes Takes 6 Scalps in England Ashes Preparation Match

Practice game, Perth venue (first day of 3)

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

England XI: awaiting batting

Ben Stokes delivered six wickets in his initial appearance following July but the tourists faced an fitness worry about fast bowler Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up against England Lions in Perth.

Stokes, making his comeback after nearly four months out with a shoulder problem, bowled sixteen overs across three bowling spells for his 6-52 versus the Lions – all to catches taken on the on-side.

Pace bowler Wood, himself returning after 9 months away with a knee problem, bowled a scheduled amount of eight overs before departing the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring problem. He will undergo scanning on Friday.

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

The tourists wanted to field first to accumulate bowling time before the first Ashes Test at Optus Stadium, beginning on November 21st.

In a potential indication towards their opening Test strategy, the visiting team fielded an all-pace attack – four specialists plus the captain – and omitted off-spinner Bashir in the Lions.

Bethell didn't strengthen his case for inclusion in the Test team, making only two, but Jacks boosted his claim to be selected later in the tour by swiping 84.

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

England's plan to play a single practice match against the Lions has been questioned by some ex-players but Stokes responded by labeling the critics "past players".

A relaxed opening day in front of a smattering of fans at Lilac Hill was definitely a world away from what the team will encounter at a sold-out main stadium next week.

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

The skipper has not managed a complete participation in any of the team's past four tours because of different fitness issues and the tourists' hopes of regaining the Ashes are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five matches in Australia.

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

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

Prior to the concern over Mark Wood, the five seamers in the team lineup for this game may not have been the bowling unit for the initial match.

Brydon Carse missed the opening day because of sickness, with his place going to Tongue. Tongue had Lions opener McKinney edging to the keeper just after the break.

Although Stokes took the wickets, Jofra Archer caught the eye. He was lively with the fresh ball and again after lunch, when he discomforted Jacks.

In the absence of Shoaib Bashir and with Mark Wood departing, Joe Root was required to deliver 14 overs of his spin bowling. It was average performance, costing 117 at an run rate of over eight.

Joe Root at least claimed a scalp in the final session when Fisher unexpectedly hit a full delivery to the fielder before Archer bounced out Matthew Potts for fifty-three with the last delivery of the day.