Stokes Secures Six Scalps in English Ashes Preparation Match

Tour match, Perth venue (first day of 3)

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

National team: yet to bat

Ben Stokes produced 6 scalps in his initial appearance after July but England faced an fitness worry involving Mark Wood on the opening day of their Test preparation versus England Lions in Perth.

The England captain, returning after nearly four months out with a shoulder problem, delivered sixteen overs across three spells for his six for fifty-two against the Lions – all to catches on the on-side.

Fast bowler Mark Wood, also making his comeback after nine months away with a knee problem, bowled a scheduled amount of 8 overs before exiting the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring issue. He will undergo scanning on Friday.

Wood's injury sucked the energy out of the day, as the Lions were dismissed for three hundred eighty-two on a slow track after an automatic toss at the venue.

England aimed to bowl first to accumulate bowling time before the initial Test match at the main venue, beginning on 21 November.

In a possible hint towards their first-Test plans, the visiting team selected an all-pace attack – four specialist bowlers plus the captain – and omitted off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in the Lions.

Bethell didn't strengthen his claim for inclusion in the Test team, making only two, but Will Jacks enhanced his claim to be selected later in the tour by swiping 84.

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

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

A relaxed first day in front of a small crowd of fans at the ground was certainly a different experience from what the team will encounter at a sold-out Optus Stadium next week.

The captain was excellent in the series against the Indian team in the home summer, only to push himself to breaking point. He was absent from the final Test with a shoulder tear.

The skipper has not managed a complete participation in any of the team's previous four tours because of different fitness issues and the tourists' chances of winning back the Ashes are vastly diminished if he is absent from any of the five Tests in the host country.

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

Will Jacks is not expected to feature in the first Test – England look to have shown their intentions with the eleven named here. Still, he may have moved himself ahead of the struggling Jacob Bethell with his 84, which came at almost a run a ball.

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

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

Though the captain took the wickets, Jofra Archer caught the eye. He was lively with the new ball and once more after the interval, when he discomforted Will Jacks.

In the absence of Shoaib Bashir and with Wood departing, Joe Root was required to bowl 14 overs of his spin bowling. It was mediocre fare, conceding 117 at an run rate of more than eight.

Joe Root at least claimed a wicket in the final session when Matt Fisher somehow hit a full delivery to the fielder before Archer bounced out Matthew Potts for fifty-three with the last delivery of the day.