Ben Stokes Secures 6 Wickets in English Ashes Warm-up

Practice game, Lilac Hill (day one of 3)

Development squad 382: Jacks 84, McKinney 67; Ben Stokes 6-52

England XI: awaiting batting

Ben Stokes achieved six wickets in his initial appearance since July but England encountered an fitness worry involving fast bowler Wood on the opening day of their Test preparation versus England Lions in Western Australia.

Stokes, returning after nearly four months away with a shoulder injury, delivered sixteen overs across three spells for his 6-52 versus the Lions – all to catches taken on the leg side.

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

The Wood situation removed the intensity out of the day, as the England Lions were bowled out for 382 on a slow track after an uncontested toss at Lilac Hill.

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

In a possible hint towards their first-Test plans, the tourists selected an all-pace attack – four specialist bowlers plus the captain – and left off-spinner Bashir in the development squad.

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

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

The team's plan to play a single warm-up game against the development squad has been questioned by some former players but the captain responded by labeling the critics "has-beens".

A low-pressure opening day in front of a smattering of spectators at Lilac Hill was certainly a different experience from what the team will encounter at a packed main stadium next week.

Stokes was excellent in the series against the Indian team in the home summer, only to strain himself to injury. He was absent from the last match with a shoulder tear.

The skipper has not managed a full part in any of the team's previous four tours because of various injuries and the team's hopes of regaining the Ashes are significantly reduced if he is absent from any of the five matches in Australia.

He has been bowling at full pace for two months and looked in good condition on the match day, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his wickets were presented.

Will Jacks is unlikely to play in the first Test – England look to have shown their intentions with the XI named here. Nevertheless, he may have nudged himself ahead of the struggling 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 bowling unit for the initial match.

Carse missed the opening 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 impressed observers. He was lively with the fresh ball and once more after lunch, when he caused problems for Jacks.

In the absence of Shoaib Bashir and with Wood leaving the field, Root was required to deliver 14 overs of his off-spin. It was average performance, conceding 117 at an economy of over eight.

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