Ben Stokes Secures Six Scalps in English Ashes Preparation Match

Practice game, Lilac Hill (day one of 3)

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

National team: awaiting batting

Ben Stokes achieved 6 scalps in his return to play after July but England encountered an injury concern involving fast bowler Wood on the first day of their Test preparation against England Lions in Western Australia.

Stokes, making his comeback after approximately four months away with a shoulder problem, delivered sixteen overs across three spells for his 6-52 against the Lions – all to catches on the leg side.

Pace bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after 9 months out with a knee injury, bowled a scheduled amount of eight overs before leaving the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring problem. He will receive scanning on Friday.

Wood's injury drained the intensity 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 get overs in their legs before the first Ashes Test at Optus Stadium, starting on 21 November.

In a potential indication towards their first-Test plans, the visiting team selected an all-pace attack – four specialists plus the captain – and left off-spinner Bashir in the development squad.

Bethell didn't strengthen his case for inclusion in the Test team, making only two, but Jacks boosted his claim to be selected during the series by scoring 84.

McKinney, Cox, teenage Thomas Rew and Matthew Potts also made fifties.

England's decision to play a solitary warm-up game against the development squad has been criticized by some former players but Stokes responded by labeling the critics "past players".

A relaxed opening day in front of a small crowd of spectators at Lilac Hill was certainly a world away from what England will face at a sold-out Optus Stadium the following week.

Stokes was superb in the series against India in the domestic season, only to strain himself to injury. He missed the final Test with a torn shoulder.

The captain has not managed a complete participation in any of the team's past four tours because of various injuries and the team's chances of winning back the series are vastly diminished if he misses any of the five matches in the host country.

He has been bowling at maximum speed for two months and appeared in fine shape 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 hand with the eleven selected here. Nevertheless, he may have moved himself ahead of the out-of-sorts Jacob Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at almost a run a ball.

Even before the concern over Mark Wood, the five seamers in the team lineup for this match may not have been the attack for the initial match.

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.

Though the captain took the scalps, Jofra Archer impressed observers. He was energetic with the fresh ball and once more after the interval, when he discomforted Will Jacks.

In the omission of Bashir and with Wood departing, Joe Root was asked to deliver fourteen overs of his off-spin. It was average performance, conceding 117 runs at an run rate of more than eight.

Joe Root at least took a scalp in the final session when Matt Fisher unexpectedly struck a full toss to the fielder before Archer bounced out Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.