Ben Stokes Takes Six Scalps in English Test Series Preparation Match

Tour game, Lilac Hill (first day of three)

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

National team: still to bat

Ben Stokes delivered six wickets in his first action after July but the tourists encountered an fitness worry about Mark Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up against England Lions in Western Australia.

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

Pace bowler Mark Wood, also making his comeback after nine months away with a knee injury, bowled a pre-planned number of eight overs before exiting the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring problem. He will undergo scanning on Friday.

Wood's injury removed the energy out of the day, as the England Lions were bowled out for 382 on a slow, low surface after an uncontested toss at the venue.

The tourists aimed to bowl first to accumulate bowling time before the first Ashes Test at Optus Stadium, 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 left off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in the Lions.

Jacob Bethell didn't strengthen his claim for selection in the Test side, making just two runs, but Will Jacks boosted his claim to be selected later in the tour by swiping 84.

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

The team's plan to play a single warm-up game against the development squad has been criticized by some former players but the captain hit back by calling the critics "past players".

A relaxed first day in front of a small crowd of fans at Lilac Hill was definitely a different experience from what England will encounter at a packed main stadium the following week.

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

The captain has not managed a complete participation in any of England's previous four series because of various injuries and the tourists' chances of regaining the series are vastly diminished if he misses 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 comprehend the way in which some of his wickets were gifted.

Will Jacks is unlikely to play in the opening match – England look to have revealed their hand with the XI selected here. Nevertheless, he may have moved himself in front of the struggling Bethell with his 84, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

Even before the concern over Wood, the five fast bowlers in the England XI for this match may not have been the bowling unit for the initial match.

Brydon Carse missed the opening day because of sickness, with his place going to Josh Tongue. Josh Tongue had opening batsman McKinney edging to the keeper just after lunch.

Though Stokes took the wickets, Jofra Archer caught the eye. He was lively with the new ball and once more after the interval, when he discomforted Jacks.

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

Root at least took a wicket in the closing stages when Matt Fisher unexpectedly struck a full toss to mid-on before Archer bounced out Matthew Potts for fifty-three with the final ball of the day.