Ben Stokes Secures Six Scalps in England Ashes Warm-up

Practice game, Lilac Hill (first day of three)

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

England XI: yet to bat

Ben Stokes delivered 6 scalps in his return to play after July but the tourists encountered an fitness worry involving Mark Wood on the first day of their Test preparation against the development squad in Western Australia.

Stokes, returning after approximately four months away with a shoulder problem, bowled 16 overs across three bowling spells for his 6-52 versus England Lions – all to catches taken on the leg side.

Fast bowler Wood, himself returning after 9 months out with a knee injury, bowled a pre-planned number of 8 overs before leaving the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring problem. He will undergo scanning on the following day.

The Wood situation sucked the intensity out of the day, as the England Lions were dismissed for 382 on a slow track after an automatic toss at the venue.

England aimed to bowl first to get overs in their legs before the initial Test match at Optus Stadium, beginning on November 21st.

In a potential indication towards their first-Test plans, the visiting team selected an fast bowling lineup – four specialist bowlers plus Stokes – and omitted off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in the development squad.

Jacob Bethell didn't strengthen his claim for inclusion in the Test team, making just two runs, but Will Jacks boosted his claim to be called upon during the series by swiping eighty-four.

Ben McKinney, Cox, teenage Thomas Rew and Potts also scored fifties.

England's plan to play a solitary warm-up game against the Lions has been criticized by some ex-players but Stokes hit back by labeling the critics "past players".

A low-pressure first day in front of a smattering of spectators at the ground was certainly a different experience from what England will encounter at a sold-out main stadium next week.

The captain was superb in the series against India in the home summer, only to push himself to injury. He missed the last match with a torn shoulder.

The captain has not managed a full part in any of the team's previous four series because of different fitness issues and the tourists' chances of regaining the Ashes are vastly diminished if he misses any of the five matches in the host country.

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

Will Jacks is not expected to feature in the opening match – England look to have revealed their intentions with the eleven named here. Nevertheless, he may have nudged himself ahead of the out-of-sorts Jacob Bethell with his 84, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

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

Brydon Carse was absent from the first day because of illness, with his position going to Tongue. Tongue had opening batsman Ben McKinney edging to the keeper just after lunch.

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

In the omission of Bashir and with Wood leaving the field, Joe Root was required to bowl fourteen overs of his off-spin. It was average performance, costing 117 at an run rate of over eight.

Root at least claimed a wicket in the final session when Matt Fisher unexpectedly hit a full delivery to the fielder before Jofra Archer bounced out Potts for fifty-three with the final ball of the day.