Ben Stokes Claims Six Wickets in English Ashes Warm-up

Tour game, Lilac Hill (day one of 3)

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

National team: still to bat

Ben Stokes achieved six wickets in his initial appearance following July but the tourists faced an fitness worry involving fast bowler Wood on the opening day of their Test preparation versus England Lions in Western Australia.

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

Pace bowler Mark Wood, also making his comeback after 9 months away with a knee injury, bowled a scheduled amount of eight overs before departing the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring problem. He will receive scanning on Friday.

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

England aimed to bowl first to build bowling fitness before the first Ashes Test at the main venue, beginning on November 21st.

In a potential indication towards their opening Test strategy, the tourists selected an all-pace attack – four specialist bowlers plus Stokes – and omitted spin bowler Bashir in the development squad.

Bethell failed to press his claim for selection in the Test team, making just two runs, but Jacks boosted his credentials to be selected later in the tour by swiping eighty-four.

Ben McKinney, Jordan Cox, teenage Rew and Matthew Potts also made fifties.

The team's plan to play a single practice match against the Lions has been questioned by some ex-players but the captain responded by calling the doubters "has-beens".

A relaxed first day in front of a small crowd of spectators at Lilac Hill was definitely a different experience from what England will face at a packed Optus Stadium next week.

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

The captain has not completed a full part in any of the team's previous four series because of different fitness issues and the tourists' chances of regaining the series are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five matches in the host country.

He has been bowling at full pace for 60 days and appeared in good condition on the match day, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his dismissals were presented.

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

Even before the concern over Mark Wood, the five fast bowlers in the team lineup for this game may not have been the attack for the first Test.

Brydon Carse was absent from the first day because of illness, with his place going to Josh Tongue. Josh Tongue had Lions opener Ben McKinney edging to the keeper just after the break.

Although Stokes took the wickets, Jofra Archer impressed observers. He was energetic with the new ball and again after lunch, when he discomforted Will Jacks.

In the omission of Bashir and with Mark Wood departing, Root was required to bowl fourteen overs of his off-spin. It was mediocre fare, conceding 117 runs at an run rate of over eight.

Joe Root at least claimed a scalp in the final session when Fisher somehow struck a full delivery to the fielder before Archer dismissed with a bouncer Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.