Ben Stokes Takes Six Wickets in England Ashes Preparation Match

Tour game, Perth venue (first day of 3)

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

National team: awaiting batting

The England captain produced 6 scalps in his initial appearance after July but the tourists encountered an fitness worry regarding fast bowler Wood on the first day of their Test preparation against the development squad in Western Australia.

Stokes, returning after nearly four months out with a shoulder injury, delivered 16 overs across three bowling spells for his 6-52 versus England Lions – all to catches on the on-side.

Pace bowler Wood, also making his comeback after 9 months away with a knee problem, delivered a pre-planned number of 8 overs before departing the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring problem. He will receive scanning on the following day.

The Wood situation drained the intensity out of the day, as the England Lions were dismissed for three hundred eighty-two on a sluggish pitch after an uncontested toss at the venue.

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

In a possible hint towards their first-Test plans, the tourists selected an fast bowling lineup – four specialist bowlers plus the captain – and left off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in the Lions.

Bethell didn't strengthen his case for inclusion in the Test side, making just two runs, but Jacks enhanced his credentials to be called upon later in the tour by scoring eighty-four.

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

The team's decision to play a solitary practice match against the development squad has been questioned by some ex-players but the captain hit back by labeling the critics "former players".

A relaxed opening day in front of a small crowd of spectators at the ground was definitely a different experience from what the team will encounter at a sold-out main stadium the following week.

The captain was superb in the series against India in the home summer, only to strain himself to breaking point. He was absent from the last match with a shoulder tear.

The captain has not completed a full part in any of the team's past four series because of different fitness issues and the team's hopes of regaining the series are vastly diminished if he is absent from any of the five matches in the host country.

He has been practicing 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 dismissals were gifted.

Will Jacks is not expected to feature in the opening match – England look to have shown their hand with the eleven named here. Nevertheless, he may have moved himself ahead of the struggling Bethell with his 84, which came at almost a run a ball.

Even before the concern over Mark Wood, the five fast bowlers in the England XI for this game may not have been the bowling unit for the first Test.

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

Though Stokes took the wickets, Jofra Archer caught the eye. He was energetic with the fresh ball and once more after the interval, when he discomforted Jacks.

In the absence of Bashir and with Mark Wood departing, Root was required to deliver 14 overs of his off-spin. It was mediocre fare, conceding 117 at an run rate of over eight.

Joe Root at least claimed a wicket in the closing stages when Fisher somehow struck a full delivery to the fielder before Jofra Archer bounced out Potts for fifty-three with the final ball of the day.