Stokes Secures Six Wickets in English Test Series Warm-up

Practice game, Lilac Hill (first day of 3)

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

National team: still to bat

The England captain produced six wickets in his initial appearance following July but the tourists encountered an fitness worry regarding Mark Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up versus England Lions in Perth.

Stokes, making his comeback after approximately four months out with a shoulder injury, delivered 16 overs across three bowling spells for his six for fifty-two against the Lions – all to catches on the on-side.

Pace bowler Wood, himself returning after nine months away with a knee injury, bowled a pre-planned number of eight overs before departing the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring problem. He will receive scanning on Friday.

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

England wanted to field first to get overs in their legs before the first Ashes Test at Optus Stadium, beginning on November 21st.

In a possible hint towards their opening Test strategy, the visiting team fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialists plus the captain – and left spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in the Lions.

Bethell didn't strengthen his case for selection in the Test side, making just two runs, but Will Jacks enhanced his claim to be called upon during the series by swiping 84.

McKinney, Cox, 17-year-old Thomas Rew and Potts also scored half-centuries.

England's decision to play a solitary practice match against the Lions has been criticized by some ex-players but the captain hit back by calling the critics "past players".

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

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

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

He has been practicing at full pace for 60 days and looked in good condition on Wednesday, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his wickets were presented.

Jacks is not expected to play in the opening match – England look to have revealed their intentions with the XI selected here. Still, he may have moved himself in front of the out-of-sorts Jacob Bethell with his 84, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

Even before the concern over Mark Wood, the five seamers in the England XI for this game may not have been the attack for the first Test.

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

Though Stokes took the wickets, Archer impressed observers. He was lively with the new ball and once more after the interval, when he caused problems for Will Jacks.

In the absence of Shoaib Bashir and with Mark Wood leaving the field, Joe Root was asked to bowl 14 overs of his off-spin. It was average performance, costing 117 at an economy of more than eight.

Joe Root at least took a wicket in the closing stages when Matt Fisher somehow struck a full toss to mid-on before Jofra Archer bounced out Potts for fifty-three with the last delivery of the day.