Ben Stokes Claims Six Wickets in English Ashes Preparation Match

Tour game, Lilac Hill (day one of three)

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

National team: yet to bat

The England captain delivered six wickets in his first action since July but England faced an fitness worry regarding fast bowler Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up versus England Lions in Western Australia.

Stokes, returning after nearly four months away with a shoulder problem, delivered 16 overs across three bowling spells for his 6-52 against the Lions – each to catches on the on-side.

Fast bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after nine months away with a knee problem, bowled a scheduled amount of eight overs before exiting the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring issue. He will have a scan on the following day.

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

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

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

Jacob Bethell failed to press his case for inclusion in the Test side, making only two, but Will Jacks enhanced his credentials to be called upon later in the tour by swiping eighty-four.

McKinney, Jordan Cox, teenage Thomas Rew and Matthew Potts also made fifties.

England's decision to play a single practice match against the Lions has been criticized by some former players but Stokes hit back by labeling the doubters "past players".

A low-pressure first day in front of a small crowd of fans at Lilac Hill was definitely a different experience from what the team will encounter at a sold-out Optus Stadium next week.

Stokes was excellent in the series against India in the home summer, only to strain 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 series because of various injuries and the tourists' chances of regaining the series are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five matches in Australia.

He has been practicing at full pace for two months and looked 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 selected here. Nevertheless, he may have nudged himself in front of the struggling Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at almost a run a ball.

Even before the concern over Wood, the five seamers in the team lineup for this match may not have been the bowling unit for the initial match.

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

Though Stokes took the wickets, Archer caught the eye. He was lively with the new ball and again 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 bowl fourteen overs of his spin bowling. It was average performance, costing 117 at an run rate of over eight.

Root at least took a wicket in the final session when Fisher unexpectedly struck a full delivery to mid-on before Archer dismissed with a bouncer Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.