Stokes Secures Six Scalps in English Test Series Preparation Match

Tour game, Lilac Hill (first day of three)

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

England XI: yet to bat

The England captain achieved six wickets in his initial appearance since July but the tourists encountered an injury concern involving Mark Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up versus England Lions in Western Australia.

The England captain, making his comeback after approximately four months away with a shoulder injury, bowled 16 overs across three spells for his six for fifty-two versus the Lions – each to catches taken on the leg side.

Pace bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after nine months out with a knee problem, bowled a scheduled amount of 8 overs before leaving the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring problem. He will have a scan on the following day.

Wood's injury removed the intensity out of the day, as the England Lions were bowled out for 382 on a sluggish pitch after an automatic toss at Lilac Hill.

The tourists wanted to field first to get overs in their legs before the initial Test match at the main venue, beginning on 21 November.

In a possible hint towards their first-Test plans, the visiting team selected an all-pace attack – four specialist bowlers plus the captain – and left spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in the Lions.

Bethell failed to press his claim for inclusion in the Test side, making only two, but Jacks enhanced his claim to be called upon later in the tour by hitting 84.

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

England's decision to play a single warm-up game against the Lions has been criticized by some ex-players but Stokes responded by labeling the critics "has-beens".

A low-pressure opening day in front of a small crowd of spectators at the ground was certainly a world away from what England will encounter at a sold-out Optus Stadium the following week.

The captain was excellent in the contest against India in the home summer, only to strain himself to injury. He missed the final Test with a torn shoulder.

The captain has not completed a complete participation in any of the team's previous four tours because of various injuries and the team's chances of winning back the series are vastly diminished if he misses any of the five matches in the host country.

He has been practicing at maximum speed for 60 days and appeared in fine shape on Wednesday, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his wickets were gifted.

Jacks is not expected to play in the opening match – the team look to have shown their intentions with the eleven selected here. Still, he may have moved himself ahead of the struggling Bethell with his 84, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

Even before the concern over Mark Wood, the five seamers in the team lineup for this game may not have been the bowling unit for the first Test.

Carse was absent from the first day because of sickness, with his position going to Tongue. Josh Tongue had opening batsman McKinney edging to the keeper just after lunch.

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

In the absence of Bashir and with Wood leaving the field, 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.

Joe Root at least claimed a wicket in the final session when Fisher somehow struck a full delivery to mid-on before Jofra Archer dismissed with a bouncer Potts for 53 with the final ball of the day.