Stokes Secures Six Wickets in England Test Series Preparation Match

Tour match, Lilac Hill (day one of 3)

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

National team: awaiting batting

Ben Stokes achieved six wickets in his first action after July but England encountered an fitness worry involving Mark Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up versus the development squad in Western Australia.

The England captain, returning after nearly four months out with a shoulder injury, delivered 16 overs across three bowling spells for his 6-52 versus the Lions – all to catches taken on the on-side.

Pace bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after 9 months away with a knee problem, delivered a pre-planned number of 8 overs before departing the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring issue. He will have a scan on Friday.

The Wood situation sucked the energy out of the day, as the Lions were dismissed for three hundred eighty-two on a sluggish pitch after an uncontested toss at the venue.

England aimed to field first to get overs in their legs before the first Ashes Test at the main venue, starting on November 21st.

In a possible hint towards their opening Test strategy, the visiting team fielded an all-pace attack – four specialist bowlers plus Stokes – and omitted spin bowler Bashir in the Lions.

Bethell didn't strengthen his case for selection in the Test side, making just two runs, but Jacks boosted his credentials to be selected during the series by hitting 84.

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

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

A relaxed opening day in front of a smattering of fans at the ground was definitely a world away from what England will face at a sold-out main stadium the following week.

Stokes was excellent in the contest against the Indian team in the home summer, only to push himself to breaking point. He was absent from the last match with a torn shoulder.

The captain has not completed a complete participation in any of England's previous four series because of different fitness issues and the tourists' hopes of regaining the series are vastly diminished if he misses 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 play in the first Test – the team look to have revealed their hand with the XI selected here. Still, he may have moved himself in front of the out-of-sorts Jacob Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at almost a run a ball.

Prior to the concern over Mark Wood, the five seamers in the team lineup for this match may not have been the attack for the initial match.

Carse missed the first day because of illness, with his position going to Josh Tongue. Tongue had Lions opener Ben McKinney edging to the keeper just after the break.

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

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

Root at least took a wicket in the final session when Matt Fisher unexpectedly struck a full toss to the fielder before Archer bounced out Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.