Ben Stokes Claims Six Scalps in England Ashes Preparation Match

Practice match, Perth venue (first day of three)

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

England XI: yet to bat

The England captain achieved 6 scalps in his first action after July but the tourists encountered an injury concern involving fast bowler Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up against England Lions in Western Australia.

The England captain, returning after almost four months out with a shoulder injury, bowled 16 overs across three spells for his 6-52 against England Lions – each to catches taken on the leg side.

Pace bowler Wood, also making his comeback after 9 months away with a knee problem, bowled a pre-planned number of 8 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 energy out of the day, as the Lions were dismissed for 382 on a sluggish pitch after an uncontested toss at the venue.

The tourists wanted to bowl first to accumulate bowling time before the initial Test match at Optus Stadium, beginning on November 21st.

In a possible hint towards their opening Test strategy, the tourists selected an fast bowling lineup – four specialists plus Stokes – and left off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in the development squad.

Bethell failed to press his case for selection in the Test side, making only two, but Jacks enhanced his credentials to be selected during the series by scoring 84.

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

The team's decision to play a single practice match against the Lions has been questioned by some former players but the captain hit back by calling the doubters "former players".

A low-pressure first day in front of a smattering of fans at the ground was definitely a different experience from what the team will face at a packed Optus Stadium the following week.

Stokes was excellent in the series against India in the home summer, only to strain himself to breaking point. He was absent from the final Test with a shoulder tear.

The captain has not managed a complete participation in any of England's past four series because of various injuries and the team's hopes of regaining 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 looked in good condition on the match day, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his wickets were gifted.

Will Jacks is not expected to feature in the first Test – England look to have shown their intentions with the eleven named here. Nevertheless, he may have nudged himself in front of the struggling Bethell with his 84, which came at almost a run a ball.

Prior to the concern 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.

Brydon Carse missed the opening day because of illness, with his position going to Josh Tongue. Tongue had opening batsman Ben McKinney caught behind just after the break.

Though Stokes took the scalps, Jofra Archer caught the eye. He was energetic with the new ball and again after the interval, when he discomforted Will Jacks.

In the omission of Bashir and with Wood departing, Joe Root was required to deliver fourteen overs of his spin bowling. It was average performance, conceding 117 runs at an run rate of more than eight.

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