Stokes Secures Six Scalps in England Ashes Preparation Match

Practice game, Lilac Hill (first day of 3)

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

England XI: still to bat

Ben Stokes produced six wickets in his return to play following July but the tourists faced an injury concern regarding fast bowler Wood on the opening day of their Test preparation against England Lions in Perth.

Stokes, returning after almost four months away with a shoulder injury, bowled sixteen overs across three spells for his 6-52 against the Lions – each to catches taken on the on-side.

Fast bowler Mark Wood, also making his comeback after nine months out with a knee injury, bowled a pre-planned number of eight overs before departing the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring issue. He will receive scanning on Friday.

Wood's injury removed 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.

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

In a potential indication towards their first-Test plans, the visiting team fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialist bowlers plus Stokes – and omitted off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in the Lions.

Jacob Bethell didn't strengthen his claim for inclusion in the Test team, making only two, but Will Jacks enhanced his claim to be selected during the series by scoring 84.

McKinney, Cox, teenage Thomas Rew and Matthew Potts also made fifties.

England's decision to play a solitary practice match against the Lions has been questioned by some former players but Stokes responded by labeling the critics "former players".

A relaxed first day in front of a small crowd of spectators at Lilac Hill was certainly a different experience from what England will encounter at a packed main stadium next week.

The captain was superb in the series against India in the domestic season, only to strain himself to injury. He was absent from the final Test with a shoulder tear.

The captain has not completed a full part in any of the team's previous four series 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 two months and appeared in fine shape on Wednesday, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his dismissals were presented.

Jacks is unlikely to feature in the opening match – England look to have shown their hand with the XI selected here. Still, he may have nudged himself in front of the out-of-sorts Bethell with his 84, which came at almost a run a ball.

Even before the doubt over Wood, the five fast bowlers in the team lineup for this game may not have been the attack for the initial match.

Brydon Carse missed the first day because of illness, with his position going to Tongue. Tongue had Lions opener Ben McKinney caught behind just after the break.

Although Stokes took the wickets, Jofra Archer impressed observers. He was energetic with the fresh ball and again after the interval, when he discomforted Will Jacks.

In the omission of Bashir and with Mark Wood departing, Root was asked to bowl fourteen overs of his spin bowling. It was average performance, costing 117 at an run rate of over eight.

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