Ben Stokes Claims 6 Wickets in England Ashes Warm-up

Practice match, Lilac Hill (first day of 3)

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

England XI: still to bat

The England captain produced 6 scalps in his first action following July but England faced an fitness worry involving Mark Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up versus the development squad in Perth.

The England captain, making his comeback after almost four months out with a shoulder injury, delivered sixteen overs across three bowling spells for his 6-52 against England Lions – each to catches taken on the leg side.

Fast bowler Wood, himself returning after 9 months out with a knee injury, delivered a pre-planned number of eight overs before exiting the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring issue. He will have a scan on Friday.

The Wood situation drained 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.

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

In a possible hint towards their opening Test strategy, the tourists selected an fast bowling lineup – four specialist bowlers plus the captain – and left off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in the Lions.

Jacob Bethell failed to press his claim for selection in the Test side, making just two runs, but Jacks boosted his credentials to be selected during the series by swiping 84.

Ben McKinney, Jordan Cox, teenage Rew and Potts also scored half-centuries.

The team's plan to play a solitary practice match against the development squad has been questioned by some ex-players but Stokes responded by calling the critics "former players".

A low-pressure first day in front of a small crowd of spectators at Lilac Hill was definitely a world away from what the team will encounter at a packed Optus Stadium next week.

The captain was excellent in the contest against the Indian team in the domestic season, only to strain himself to breaking point. He was absent from the last match with a torn shoulder.

The skipper has not managed a full part in any of England'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 Tests in Australia.

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

Jacks is not expected to play in the opening match – the team look to have revealed their intentions with the XI named here. Still, he may have moved himself in front of the struggling Bethell with his 84, which came at almost a run a ball.

Even before the concern over Wood, the five fast bowlers in the team lineup for this match 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 opening batsman Ben McKinney edging to the keeper just after the break.

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

In the absence of Bashir and with Mark Wood departing, Root was asked to bowl 14 overs of his spin bowling. It was average performance, conceding 117 at an run rate of over eight.

Root at least claimed a wicket in the final session when Matt Fisher unexpectedly struck a full toss to mid-on before Jofra Archer dismissed with a bouncer Matthew Potts for 53 with the final ball of the day.