Ben Stokes Claims 6 Wickets in England Ashes Preparation Match

Tour game, Lilac Hill (first day of three)

Development squad 382: Will Jacks 84, Ben McKinney 67; Stokes 6-52

England XI: yet to bat

The England captain produced six wickets in his first action following July but England encountered an injury concern involving fast bowler Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up against England Lions in Perth.

The England captain, returning after approximately four months away with a shoulder injury, delivered sixteen overs across three bowling spells for his 6-52 versus the Lions – all to catches on the on-side.

Pace bowler Mark Wood, also making his comeback after nine months out 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 issue. He will undergo scanning on the following day.

Wood's injury drained the intensity out of the day, as the England Lions were dismissed for 382 on a slow, low surface after an automatic toss at Lilac Hill.

The tourists aimed to field first to build bowling fitness before the first Ashes Test at the main venue, beginning on 21 November.

In a possible hint towards their opening Test strategy, the visiting team fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialist bowlers plus Stokes – and left spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in the development squad.

Bethell failed to press his case for inclusion in the Test team, making just two runs, but Will Jacks boosted his claim to be selected during the series by scoring eighty-four.

McKinney, Cox, teenage Rew and Matthew Potts also scored fifties.

The team's plan to play a solitary warm-up game against the Lions has been questioned by some ex-players but the captain hit back by labeling the doubters "past players".

A low-pressure first day in front of a smattering of fans at Lilac Hill was definitely a different experience from what England will encounter at a packed main stadium next week.

The captain was excellent in the contest against the Indian team in the domestic season, only to push himself to injury. He was absent from the final Test with a torn shoulder.

The skipper has not completed a full part in any of England's past four series because of different fitness issues and the team's hopes of regaining the series are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five Tests in the host country.

He has been bowling at maximum speed for two months and appeared in good condition on Wednesday, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his wickets were gifted.

Jacks is unlikely to play in the first Test – the team look to have shown their intentions with the XI selected here. Nevertheless, he may have moved himself ahead of the struggling Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at almost a run a ball.

Even before the doubt over Mark Wood, the five fast bowlers in the England XI for this game may not have been the attack for the initial match.

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

Though Stokes took the scalps, Jofra Archer impressed observers. He was energetic with the fresh ball and again after the interval, when he discomforted Will Jacks.

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

Joe Root at least took a scalp in the closing stages when Matt Fisher unexpectedly struck a full toss to the fielder before Jofra Archer bounced out Matthew Potts for 53 with the final ball of the day.