Ben Stokes Takes Six Scalps in English Ashes Preparation Match

Tour match, Lilac Hill (day one of three)

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

England XI: awaiting batting

Ben Stokes achieved 6 scalps in his first action after July but the tourists faced an injury concern regarding fast bowler Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up against England Lions in Western Australia.

The England captain, returning after approximately four months out with a shoulder problem, delivered sixteen overs across three spells for his 6-52 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, delivered a pre-planned number of 8 overs before exiting the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring problem. He will receive scanning on Friday.

Wood's injury drained the intensity out of the day, as the Lions were bowled out for three hundred eighty-two on a slow track after an automatic toss at Lilac Hill.

England wanted to bowl first to accumulate bowling time before the first Ashes Test at Optus Stadium, starting on 21 November.

In a potential indication towards their first-Test plans, the visiting team selected an fast bowling lineup – four specialists plus Stokes – and left spin bowler Bashir in the development squad.

Bethell failed to press his claim for inclusion in the Test team, making only two, but Jacks boosted his credentials to be selected later in the tour by scoring eighty-four.

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

The team's plan to play a solitary warm-up game against the development squad has been questioned by some former players but Stokes hit back by labeling the critics "former players".

A relaxed opening day in front of a small crowd of spectators at the ground was certainly a world away from what the team will face at a packed main stadium next week.

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

The captain has not managed a full part in any of England's past four series because of different fitness issues and the tourists' hopes of winning back the series are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five matches in Australia.

He has been bowling at maximum speed for two months and looked in fine shape on Wednesday, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his dismissals were gifted.

Jacks is unlikely to play in the opening match – the team look to have shown their hand with the eleven selected here. Nevertheless, he may have nudged himself ahead of the out-of-sorts 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 missed the first day because of illness, with his place going to Tongue. Tongue had opening batsman Ben McKinney edging to the keeper just after lunch.

Although Stokes took the scalps, Jofra Archer caught the eye. He was lively with the new ball and again after the interval, when he discomforted Jacks.

In the omission of Bashir and with Wood leaving the field, Joe Root was required to deliver 14 overs of his off-spin. It was mediocre fare, conceding 117 runs at an economy of more than eight.

Root at least took a scalp in the closing stages when Matt Fisher somehow struck a full toss to the fielder before Archer bounced out Matthew Potts for fifty-three with the final ball of the day.