Stokes Claims Six Scalps in English Ashes Warm-up

Practice game, Lilac Hill (day one of 3)

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

National team: awaiting batting

The England captain produced six wickets in his initial appearance following July but the tourists encountered an fitness worry about Mark Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up versus England Lions in Western Australia.

Stokes, making his comeback after almost four months away with a shoulder injury, bowled 16 overs across three bowling spells for his 6-52 against England Lions – all to catches taken on the on-side.

Pace bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after 9 months away with a knee injury, bowled a scheduled amount of eight overs before departing the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring issue. He will receive scanning on the following day.

The Wood situation removed the energy out of the day, as the England Lions were dismissed for three hundred eighty-two on a slow track after an uncontested toss at the venue.

England wanted to bowl first to get overs in their legs before the first Ashes Test at Optus Stadium, starting on November 21st.

In a possible hint towards their first-Test plans, the visiting team selected an fast bowling lineup – four specialist bowlers plus Stokes – and omitted spin bowler Bashir in the development squad.

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

Ben McKinney, Cox, 17-year-old Thomas Rew and Potts also made fifties.

The team's decision to play a solitary practice match against the development squad has been questioned by some ex-players but Stokes responded by labeling the doubters "has-beens".

A low-pressure first day in front of a small crowd of fans at Lilac Hill was certainly a world away from what the team will face at a sold-out main stadium the following week.

Stokes was superb in the series against India in the domestic season, only to push himself to breaking point. He was absent from the last match with a torn shoulder.

The skipper has not completed a full part in any of England's previous four tours because of various injuries and the team's hopes of regaining the series are vastly diminished if he misses any of the five Tests in the host country.

He has been practicing at maximum speed for two months and looked in fine shape on the match day, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his dismissals were presented.

Will Jacks is not expected to feature in the opening match – the team look to have revealed their hand with the eleven selected here. Nevertheless, he may have nudged himself in front of the struggling Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

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

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

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

In the absence of Shoaib Bashir and with Mark Wood leaving the field, Joe Root was required to deliver fourteen overs of his spin bowling. It was mediocre fare, conceding 117 runs at an run rate of more than eight.

Joe Root at least took a wicket in the final session when Fisher somehow hit a full delivery to the fielder before Archer bounced out Matthew Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.