Ben Stokes Claims Six Scalps in English Ashes Preparation Match

Tour match, Perth venue (first day of 3)

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

England XI: still to bat

Ben Stokes achieved six wickets in his initial appearance after July but England encountered an fitness worry regarding Mark Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up against the development squad in Perth.

Stokes, making his comeback after nearly four months out with a shoulder problem, bowled sixteen overs across three bowling spells for his six for fifty-two versus England Lions – all to catches on the on-side.

Pace bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after 9 months out with a knee injury, bowled a pre-planned number of eight overs before leaving the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring problem. He will receive scanning on Friday.

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

The tourists aimed to field first to accumulate bowling time before the initial Test match at Optus Stadium, starting on November 21st.

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

Bethell failed to press his claim for selection in the Test team, making only two, but Jacks enhanced his credentials to be called upon later in the tour by hitting 84.

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

England's plan to play a single warm-up game against the Lions has been questioned by some former players but Stokes hit back by labeling the doubters "has-beens".

A relaxed opening day in front of a smattering of spectators at Lilac Hill was certainly a different experience from what England will face at a packed Optus Stadium the following week.

The captain was excellent in the series against India in the domestic season, only to push himself to injury. He missed the last match with a shoulder tear.

The skipper has not completed a full part in any of England's previous four series because of different fitness issues and the tourists' hopes of regaining the series are vastly diminished if he misses any of the five matches 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 dismissals were gifted.

Will Jacks is unlikely to feature in the opening match – England look to have revealed their intentions with the XI selected here. Still, he may have nudged himself ahead of the struggling Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at almost a run a ball.

Prior to the doubt over Wood, the five fast bowlers in the team lineup for this game may not have been the attack for the first Test.

Carse missed the first day because of illness, with his place going to Tongue. Tongue had Lions opener McKinney caught behind just after lunch.

Though the captain took the scalps, Jofra Archer caught the eye. He was energetic with the new ball and again after lunch, when he discomforted Will Jacks.

In the omission of Shoaib Bashir and with Mark Wood departing, Joe Root was required to deliver 14 overs of his spin bowling. It was mediocre fare, costing 117 runs at an run rate of over eight.

Joe Root at least claimed a scalp in the final session when Fisher somehow hit a full delivery to mid-on before Jofra Archer dismissed with a bouncer Matthew Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.