Stokes Claims 6 Wickets in English Test Series Preparation Match

Tour game, Lilac Hill (day one of three)

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

England XI: awaiting batting

Ben Stokes produced six wickets in his first action after July but the tourists encountered an injury concern involving fast bowler Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up versus the development squad in Western Australia.

Stokes, returning after almost four months away with a shoulder injury, bowled sixteen overs across three spells for his 6-52 versus England Lions – each to catches on the leg side.

Pace bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after 9 months out 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 have a scan on the following day.

The Wood situation removed the energy out of the day, as the Lions were dismissed for three hundred eighty-two on a slow, low surface after an automatic toss at Lilac Hill.

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

In a potential indication towards their first-Test plans, the tourists fielded an all-pace attack – four specialists plus the captain – and omitted spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in the Lions.

Jacob Bethell failed to press his claim for inclusion in the Test side, making just two runs, but Jacks boosted his claim to be called upon later in the tour by scoring 84.

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

England's plan to play a single practice match against the development squad has been criticized by some former players but the captain hit back by calling the doubters "has-beens".

A low-pressure opening day in front of a small crowd of fans 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 contest against the Indian team in the home summer, only to push himself to breaking point. He missed the last match with a shoulder tear.

The captain has not managed a full part in any of England's past four series because of different fitness issues and the tourists' chances of winning back the series are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five matches in Australia.

He has been practicing at maximum speed for two months and appeared in good condition on Wednesday, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his dismissals were presented.

Jacks is not expected to play in the first Test – the team look to have shown their intentions with the eleven selected here. Still, 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 concern over Wood, the five fast bowlers in the team lineup for this game may not have been the attack for the first Test.

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

Although Stokes took the wickets, Archer impressed observers. He was lively with the fresh ball and once more after lunch, when he discomforted Jacks.

In the absence of Shoaib Bashir and with Wood leaving the field, Joe Root was required to bowl 14 overs of his spin bowling. It was average performance, costing 117 at an run rate of more than eight.

Joe Root at least took a scalp in the final session when Matt Fisher unexpectedly hit a full delivery to the fielder before Jofra Archer dismissed with a bouncer Potts for fifty-three with the last delivery of the day.