Ben Stokes Secures Six Wickets in English Test Series Preparation Match

Tour game, Lilac Hill (first day of three)

Development squad 382: Jacks 84, McKinney 67; Ben Stokes 6-52

England XI: still to bat

Ben Stokes achieved six wickets in his return to play following July but England faced an injury concern regarding fast bowler Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up against the development squad in Western Australia.

Stokes, making his comeback after approximately four months out with a shoulder injury, delivered 16 overs across three spells for his six for fifty-two against England Lions – all to catches taken on the leg side.

Fast bowler Mark Wood, also making his comeback after nine months away with a knee problem, bowled a pre-planned number of eight overs before leaving the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring problem. He will receive scanning on the following day.

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

The tourists aimed to bowl first to get overs in their legs before the initial Test match at Optus Stadium, starting on 21 November.

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

Jacob Bethell didn't strengthen his case for selection in the Test side, making just two runs, but Jacks boosted his claim to be called upon during the series by hitting 84.

McKinney, Jordan Cox, teenage 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 Stokes responded by labeling the critics "has-beens".

A low-pressure first day in front of a smattering of fans at Lilac Hill was certainly a different experience from what the team will encounter at a sold-out main stadium next week.

Stokes was excellent in the series against India in the domestic season, only to strain himself to breaking point. He was absent from the final Test with a torn shoulder.

The captain has not managed a full part in any of the team's previous four tours because of different fitness issues and the tourists' hopes of regaining the Ashes are vastly diminished if he is absent from any of the five matches in the host country.

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

Jacks is unlikely to feature in the first Test – the team look to have revealed their hand with the XI named here. Nevertheless, he may have nudged himself ahead of the struggling Bethell with his 84, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

Even before the concern over Wood, the five fast bowlers in the England XI for this match may not have been the attack for the initial match.

Brydon Carse was absent from the first day because of illness, with his place going to Josh Tongue. Tongue had opening batsman Ben McKinney caught behind just after the break.

Though Stokes took the wickets, Archer impressed observers. He was energetic with the fresh ball and once more after lunch, when he caused problems for Jacks.

In the absence of Shoaib Bashir and with Wood leaving the field, Joe Root was asked to deliver fourteen overs of his spin bowling. It was average performance, conceding 117 runs at an economy of over eight.

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