Stokes Claims 6 Scalps in England Ashes Preparation Match

Practice match, Perth venue (day one of 3)

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

England XI: awaiting batting

Ben Stokes delivered 6 scalps in his initial appearance after July but England encountered an injury concern involving Mark Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up against England Lions in Perth.

Stokes, returning after approximately four months out with a shoulder injury, delivered 16 overs across three bowling spells for his 6-52 against the Lions – all to catches taken on the leg side.

Fast bowler Wood, himself returning after nine months away with a knee problem, bowled a scheduled amount of eight overs before exiting the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring issue. He will undergo scanning on Friday.

The Wood situation drained the energy out of the day, as the Lions were bowled out for 382 on a slow, low surface after an automatic toss at Lilac Hill.

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

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

Jacob Bethell failed to press his case for selection in the Test team, making only two, but Jacks boosted his claim to be called upon during the series by scoring 84.

McKinney, Jordan Cox, teenage Rew and Matthew Potts also made half-centuries.

England's plan to play a solitary practice match against the Lions has been questioned by some ex-players but Stokes hit back by labeling the doubters "former players".

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

The captain was superb in the contest against India in the domestic season, only to push himself to breaking point. He missed the last match with a shoulder tear.

The captain has not managed a complete participation in any of the team's previous four series because of various injuries and the tourists' hopes of regaining the Ashes are significantly reduced if he is absent from any of the five Tests in Australia.

He has been practicing at maximum speed for 60 days and looked in fine shape on the match day, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his dismissals were presented.

Jacks is not expected to play in the first Test – England look to have revealed their intentions with the XI selected here. Nevertheless, he may have nudged himself in front of the struggling Jacob Bethell with his 84, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

Prior to the concern over Mark Wood, the five fast bowlers in the England XI for this match may not have been the bowling unit for the first Test.

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

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

In the absence of Shoaib Bashir and with Wood leaving the field, Root was asked to deliver fourteen overs of his off-spin. It was mediocre fare, costing 117 at an run rate of more than eight.

Joe Root at least took a scalp in the final session when Fisher unexpectedly hit a full delivery to the fielder before Archer bounced out Matthew Potts for 53 with the final ball of the day.