Ben Stokes Secures 6 Wickets in English Ashes Preparation Match

Practice match, Perth venue (first day of three)

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

National team: still to bat

The England captain achieved six wickets in his first action following July but England faced an injury concern about fast bowler Wood on the opening day of their Test preparation against the development squad in Western Australia.

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

Fast bowler Wood, also making his comeback after 9 months out with a knee problem, delivered a scheduled amount of eight overs before departing the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring issue. He will receive scanning on Friday.

Wood's injury drained 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 Lilac Hill.

The tourists wanted to field first to get overs in their legs before the first Ashes Test at Optus Stadium, starting on 21 November.

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

Bethell didn't strengthen his claim for inclusion in the Test team, making just two runs, but Jacks enhanced his credentials to be selected during the series by hitting 84.

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

The team's decision to play a solitary practice match against the Lions has been criticized 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 face at a sold-out Optus Stadium next week.

The captain was excellent in the series against the Indian team in the domestic season, only to push himself to injury. He missed the last match with a shoulder tear.

The captain has not managed a full part in any of the team's previous four tours because of different fitness issues and the team's chances of winning back the Ashes are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five Tests in Australia.

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

Jacks is unlikely to feature in the first Test – England look to have revealed their hand with the eleven named here. Still, he may have nudged himself ahead of the out-of-sorts Bethell with his 84, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

Prior to the concern over Wood, the five fast bowlers in the team lineup for this game may not have been the bowling unit for the initial match.

Brydon Carse was absent from the first day because of sickness, with his place going to Josh Tongue. Tongue had Lions opener McKinney edging to the keeper just after lunch.

Although Stokes took the wickets, Archer caught the eye. He was energetic with the new ball and again after lunch, when he caused problems for Will Jacks.

In the absence of Shoaib Bashir and with Wood leaving the field, Root was asked to bowl 14 overs of his off-spin. It was mediocre fare, conceding 117 runs at an economy of more than eight.

Joe Root at least took a wicket in the final session when Matt Fisher somehow hit a full toss to mid-on before Archer dismissed with a bouncer Matthew Potts for fifty-three with the final ball of the day.