Ben Stokes Secures Six Scalps in England Ashes Preparation Match

Tour match, Lilac Hill (day one of three)

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

England XI: yet to bat

Ben Stokes delivered 6 scalps in his first action following July but the tourists encountered an fitness worry about Mark Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up against the development squad in Perth.

Stokes, returning after nearly four months away with a shoulder injury, bowled sixteen overs across three bowling spells for his six for fifty-two against England Lions – all to catches taken on the on-side.

Pace bowler Wood, also making his comeback after 9 months out with a knee problem, bowled a pre-planned number of eight overs before leaving the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring problem. He will undergo scanning on Friday.

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

The tourists aimed to field first to build bowling fitness before the first Ashes Test at the main venue, beginning on November 21st.

In a possible hint towards their first-Test plans, the visiting team selected an fast bowling lineup – four specialists plus Stokes – and omitted off-spinner Bashir in the Lions.

Jacob Bethell failed to press his claim for selection in the Test side, making only two, but Will Jacks enhanced his claim to be called upon later in the tour by swiping eighty-four.

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

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

A low-pressure opening day in front of a small crowd of fans at Lilac Hill was definitely a different experience from what the team will face at a sold-out main stadium the following week.

The captain was superb in the contest against the Indian team in the home summer, only to push himself to breaking point. He was absent from the last match with a shoulder tear.

The captain has not managed a complete participation in any of England's previous four tours because of various injuries and the team's chances of winning back the series are significantly reduced if he is absent from any of the five Tests in Australia.

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

Jacks is unlikely to feature in the first Test – England look to have revealed their intentions with the XI selected here. Still, he may have nudged himself in front of the struggling Bethell with his eighty-four, 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.

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

Though Stokes took the wickets, Jofra Archer caught the eye. He was lively with the fresh ball and again after lunch, when he discomforted Jacks.

In the omission of Bashir and with Wood departing, Root was required to bowl fourteen overs of his spin bowling. It was mediocre fare, conceding 117 at an run rate of over eight.

Root at least took a wicket in the closing stages when Fisher somehow hit a full delivery to the fielder before Jofra Archer bounced out Potts for 53 with the final ball of the day.