Ben Stokes Secures Six Scalps in English Ashes Preparation Match

Practice match, Perth venue (day one of three)

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

National team: awaiting batting

Ben Stokes delivered 6 scalps in his initial appearance after July but the tourists faced an injury concern involving fast bowler Wood on the opening day of their Test preparation versus England Lions in Perth.

Stokes, returning after approximately four months out with a shoulder problem, delivered 16 overs across three bowling spells for his six for fifty-two against the Lions – each to catches on the on-side.

Fast bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after nine months away with a knee injury, bowled a pre-planned number of eight overs before leaving the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring problem. He will receive scanning on Friday.

Wood's injury sucked the intensity out of the day, as the England Lions were dismissed for 382 on a sluggish pitch after an automatic toss at the venue.

England aimed to bowl first to build bowling fitness before the initial Test match at Optus Stadium, beginning on November 21st.

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

Jacob Bethell failed to press his case for inclusion in the Test side, making only two, but Jacks boosted his claim to be called upon during the series by scoring eighty-four.

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

The team's decision to play a solitary practice match against the Lions has been questioned by some ex-players but Stokes responded by labeling the doubters "former players".

A low-pressure opening day in front of a small crowd of spectators at Lilac Hill was certainly a world away from what the team will encounter at a packed Optus Stadium next week.

The captain was superb in the series against India in the domestic season, only to strain himself to breaking point. He missed the last match with a torn shoulder.

The captain has not completed a full part in any of England's previous four tours because of various injuries and the team's hopes of winning back the Ashes are vastly diminished if he is absent from any of the five Tests in Australia.

He has been practicing at maximum speed for 60 days and looked in fine shape on the match day, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his dismissals were presented.

Will Jacks is not expected to feature in the opening match – England look to have shown their hand with the XI named here. Still, he may have nudged himself in front of the out-of-sorts Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

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

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

Although the captain took the scalps, Archer impressed observers. He was lively with the fresh ball and again after the interval, when he caused problems for Jacks.

In the absence of Shoaib Bashir and with Mark Wood departing, Root was required to bowl fourteen overs of his spin bowling. It was average performance, costing 117 runs at an run rate of more than eight.

Root at least took a wicket in the closing stages when Fisher somehow hit a full delivery to mid-on before Archer dismissed with a bouncer Potts for fifty-three with the last delivery of the day.