Ben Stokes Takes Six Wickets in English Ashes Preparation Match

Tour match, Lilac Hill (day one of 3)

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

England XI: still to bat

The England captain delivered six wickets in his initial appearance since July but England encountered an injury concern about fast bowler Wood on the opening day of their Test preparation versus England Lions in Western Australia.

Stokes, making his comeback after almost four months away with a shoulder problem, bowled 16 overs across three spells for his 6-52 versus the Lions – all to catches taken on the leg side.

Pace bowler Wood, also making his comeback after 9 months out with a knee problem, delivered 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 intensity out of the day, as the 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 build bowling fitness before the initial Test match at the main venue, starting on November 21st.

In a potential indication towards their first-Test plans, the tourists fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialists plus the captain – and omitted spin bowler Bashir in the development squad.

Bethell didn't strengthen his claim for selection in the Test team, making only two, but Jacks enhanced his credentials to be selected later in the tour by swiping eighty-four.

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

England's decision to play a solitary warm-up game against the Lions has been criticized by some former players but the captain hit back by calling the doubters "has-beens".

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

Stokes was superb in the series against India in the domestic season, only to push himself to injury. He was absent from the final Test with a shoulder tear.

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

He has been practicing at maximum speed for two months and appeared in good condition on the match day, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his wickets were gifted.

Jacks is not expected to feature in the opening match – the team look to have revealed their hand with the eleven selected here. Nevertheless, he may have moved himself in front of the out-of-sorts Jacob Bethell with his 84, which came at almost a run a ball.

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

Carse missed the first day because of sickness, with his position going to Tongue. Josh Tongue had Lions opener Ben McKinney edging to the keeper just after the break.

Though the captain took the wickets, Jofra Archer impressed observers. He was energetic with the new ball and again after the interval, when he caused problems for Will Jacks.

In the absence of Shoaib Bashir and with Wood departing, Root was required to deliver 14 overs of his off-spin. It was average performance, costing 117 runs at an economy of more than eight.

Joe Root at least claimed a scalp in the final session when Fisher unexpectedly struck a full toss to mid-on before Archer bounced out Potts for fifty-three with the final ball of the day.