Ben Stokes Claims 6 Wickets in English Ashes Preparation Match

Practice game, Perth venue (day one of three)

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

National team: still to bat

Ben Stokes produced 6 scalps in his first action after July but England encountered an injury concern involving Mark Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up versus the development squad in Western Australia.

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

Pace bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after nine months out with a knee injury, bowled a scheduled amount of 8 overs before exiting the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring problem. He will receive scanning on the following day.

Wood's injury removed the energy out of the day, as the Lions were bowled out for three hundred eighty-two on a sluggish pitch after an uncontested toss at Lilac Hill.

England aimed to field first to accumulate bowling time before the first Ashes Test at Optus Stadium, starting on November 21st.

In a possible hint towards their first-Test plans, the visiting team fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialist bowlers plus the captain – and omitted spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in the Lions.

Bethell failed to press his claim for selection in the Test team, making just two runs, but Will Jacks enhanced his credentials to be selected during the series by hitting 84.

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

England's decision to play a single practice match against the development squad has been questioned by some former players but the captain responded by calling the doubters "past players".

A relaxed first day in front of a smattering of spectators at the ground was certainly a different experience from what the team will face at a sold-out main stadium the following week.

Stokes was excellent in the series against the Indian team in the domestic season, only to strain himself to injury. He was absent from the last match with a shoulder tear.

The skipper has not managed a full part in any of England's previous four tours because of various injuries and the tourists' chances of regaining the Ashes are vastly diminished if he is absent from any of the five Tests in the host country.

He has been practicing at maximum speed for two months and appeared in fine shape on Wednesday, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his wickets were presented.

Will Jacks is not expected to play in the first Test – the team look to have revealed their intentions with the XI named here. Nevertheless, he may have moved himself ahead of the struggling Bethell with his 84, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

Prior to the concern over Wood, the five seamers in the team lineup 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 edging to the keeper just after lunch.

Though the captain took the scalps, Archer impressed observers. He was lively with the new ball and again after the interval, when he discomforted Jacks.

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

Joe Root at least claimed a scalp in the final session when Fisher unexpectedly struck a full toss to the fielder before Jofra Archer bounced out Potts for 53 with the final ball of the day.