Stokes Takes Six Wickets in English Ashes Warm-up

Tour match, Lilac Hill (first day of three)

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

England XI: still to bat

Ben Stokes delivered 6 scalps in his initial appearance following July but the tourists encountered an injury concern regarding fast bowler Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up against the development squad in Western Australia.

The England captain, making his comeback after nearly four months away with a shoulder injury, bowled sixteen overs across three spells for his six for fifty-two against the Lions – each to catches taken on the leg side.

Pace bowler Mark Wood, also making his comeback after nine months away with a knee problem, bowled a scheduled amount of 8 overs before leaving the field in the afternoon 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 Lions were bowled out for three hundred eighty-two on a sluggish pitch after an uncontested toss at Lilac Hill.

The tourists aimed to field first to build bowling fitness before the first Ashes Test at the main venue, beginning on 21 November.

In a potential indication towards their opening Test strategy, the tourists selected an all-pace attack – four specialist bowlers plus the captain – and omitted off-spinner Bashir in the development squad.

Jacob Bethell didn't strengthen his case for inclusion in the Test team, making only two, but Jacks enhanced his claim to be called upon during the series by scoring 84.

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

England's decision to play a solitary warm-up game against the Lions has been questioned by some ex-players but Stokes responded by calling the critics "past players".

A low-pressure first day in front of a smattering of fans at Lilac Hill was definitely 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 India in the home summer, only to push himself to breaking point. He missed the last match with a shoulder tear.

The captain has not completed a complete participation in any of England's past four series because of various injuries and the team's hopes of winning back the series are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five matches in Australia.

He has been practicing at full pace for 60 days and looked in good condition on the match day, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his wickets were gifted.

Jacks is not expected to play in the opening match – the team look to have shown their hand with the XI selected here. Still, he may have moved himself in front of the struggling Jacob Bethell with his 84, 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 match may not have been the attack for the first Test.

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

Although the captain took the scalps, Jofra Archer caught the eye. He was lively with the new ball and once more after the interval, when he caused problems for Jacks.

In the omission of Shoaib Bashir and with Mark Wood leaving the field, Joe Root was asked to bowl fourteen overs of his spin bowling. It was mediocre fare, costing 117 at an run rate of over eight.

Root at least claimed a wicket in the closing stages when Matt Fisher somehow struck a full delivery to mid-on before Jofra Archer dismissed with a bouncer Matthew Potts for fifty-three with the final ball of the day.