Stokes Takes Six Scalps in English Ashes Preparation Match

Tour game, Perth venue (day one of three)

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

England XI: awaiting batting

The England captain achieved 6 scalps in his first action since July but England faced an fitness worry involving Mark Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up against England Lions in Western Australia.

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

Pace bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after 9 months away with a knee problem, delivered a scheduled amount of 8 overs before exiting the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring problem. He will undergo scanning on Friday.

Wood's injury sucked the intensity out of the day, as the England Lions were bowled out for 382 on a slow track after an automatic toss at Lilac Hill.

England wanted to field first to build bowling fitness before the first Ashes Test at Optus Stadium, starting on 21 November.

In a possible hint towards their opening Test strategy, the tourists selected an fast bowling lineup – four specialists plus the captain – and omitted spin bowler Bashir in the Lions.

Bethell failed to press his case for inclusion in the Test side, making only two, but Will Jacks boosted his claim to be called upon later in the tour by hitting 84.

Ben McKinney, Cox, 17-year-old Thomas Rew and Potts also scored fifties.

England's plan to play a single warm-up game against the Lions has been questioned by some former players but the captain responded by labeling the doubters "past players".

A relaxed first day in front of a small crowd of spectators at the ground was definitely a world away from what England will encounter at a packed main stadium next week.

The captain was superb in the contest against the Indian team in the domestic season, only to push himself to injury. He missed the final Test with a torn shoulder.

The captain has not managed a full part in any of England's previous four tours because of various injuries and the tourists' chances of winning back the series are significantly reduced if he is absent from any of the five Tests in the host country.

He has been practicing at maximum speed for 60 days and appeared in fine shape on the match day, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his dismissals were gifted.

Jacks is not expected to feature in the opening match – England look to have shown their hand with the XI named here. Nevertheless, he may have moved 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 team lineup for this match may not have been the attack for the first Test.

Brydon Carse missed the first day because of illness, with his position going to Tongue. Josh Tongue had Lions opener McKinney edging to the keeper just after the break.

Though the captain took the wickets, Archer caught the eye. He was lively with the new ball and once more after the interval, when he discomforted Jacks.

In the omission of Shoaib Bashir and with Mark Wood departing, Joe Root was required to bowl fourteen overs of his spin bowling. It was average performance, costing 117 runs at an economy of more than eight.

Joe Root at least took a wicket in the closing stages when Fisher unexpectedly struck a full toss to mid-on before Archer dismissed with a bouncer Matthew Potts for fifty-three with the last delivery of the day.