Stokes Claims Six Wickets in England Ashes Preparation Match

Practice match, Lilac Hill (first day of three)

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

National team: still to bat

The England captain achieved 6 scalps in his first action following July but the tourists encountered an injury concern regarding fast bowler Wood on the first day of their Test preparation against the development squad in Western Australia.

The England captain, making his comeback after nearly four months away with a shoulder problem, bowled sixteen overs across three spells for his six for fifty-two against the Lions – each to catches on the leg side.

Fast bowler Mark Wood, also making his comeback after nine months away with a knee problem, bowled a pre-planned number of 8 overs before departing the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring problem. He will have a scan on the following day.

The Wood situation sucked the energy out of the day, as the England Lions were bowled out for 382 on a sluggish pitch after an uncontested toss at the venue.

England aimed to field first to accumulate bowling time before the first Ashes Test at the main venue, beginning on 21 November.

In a possible hint towards their first-Test plans, the visiting team fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialists plus the captain – and left off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in the development squad.

Bethell didn't strengthen his case for inclusion in the Test team, making only two, but Jacks enhanced his claim to be selected during the series by swiping eighty-four.

McKinney, Jordan Cox, 17-year-old Thomas Rew and Matthew Potts also made half-centuries.

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

A relaxed opening day in front of a smattering of spectators at the ground was certainly a different experience from what England will face at a packed Optus Stadium the following week.

Stokes was excellent in the contest against the Indian team in the domestic season, only to push himself to breaking point. He missed the last match with a shoulder tear.

The skipper has not managed a full part in any of England's past four series because of various injuries and the team's hopes of winning back the series are significantly reduced if he is absent from any of the five matches in Australia.

He has been bowling at full pace for 60 days and looked in fine shape on the match day, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his wickets were presented.

Will Jacks is not expected to feature in the first Test – the team look to have shown their hand with the eleven named here. Nevertheless, he may have nudged himself in front of the out-of-sorts Bethell with his 84, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

Prior to the doubt 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.

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

Though Stokes took the scalps, Jofra Archer impressed observers. He was energetic with the new ball and once more after the interval, when he caused problems for Jacks.

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

Joe Root at least took a wicket in the closing stages when Matt Fisher unexpectedly hit a full delivery to the fielder before Archer bounced out Potts for fifty-three with the final ball of the day.