Stokes Takes 6 Scalps in England Ashes Preparation Match

Tour game, Perth venue (day one of 3)

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

England XI: awaiting batting

The England captain produced 6 scalps in his first action following July but England faced an fitness worry involving fast bowler 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 injury, delivered sixteen overs across three bowling spells for his 6-52 versus England Lions – all to catches taken on the leg side.

Pace bowler Mark Wood, also making his comeback after nine months away with a knee injury, bowled a scheduled amount of eight overs before exiting the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring issue. He will receive scanning on Friday.

Wood's injury removed the intensity out of the day, as the England Lions were dismissed for 382 on a slow, low surface after an uncontested toss at Lilac Hill.

The tourists aimed to field first to accumulate bowling time before the first Ashes Test at the main venue, starting on November 21st.

In a potential indication towards their opening Test strategy, the visiting team selected an fast bowling lineup – four specialists plus Stokes – and omitted spin bowler Bashir in the Lions.

Jacob Bethell failed to press his claim for selection in the Test team, making just two runs, but Will Jacks enhanced his credentials to be called upon during the series by swiping 84.

McKinney, Jordan Cox, teenage Thomas Rew and Matthew Potts also scored fifties.

England's decision to play a solitary warm-up game against the development squad has been criticized by some ex-players but the captain responded by calling the doubters "has-beens".

A relaxed opening day in front of a small crowd of spectators at Lilac Hill was definitely a different experience from what the team will face at a sold-out Optus Stadium the following week.

Stokes was superb in the series against India in the domestic season, only to strain himself to injury. He missed the last match with a shoulder tear.

The captain has not completed a complete participation in any of the team's previous four series because of different fitness issues and the tourists' chances of winning back the series are significantly reduced if he is absent from any of the five Tests in the host country.

He has been bowling at full pace 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.

Jacks is unlikely to feature in the opening match – the team look to have revealed their hand with the eleven named here. Still, he may have moved himself ahead of the out-of-sorts Jacob Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

Prior to the concern over Wood, the five fast bowlers in the team lineup for this match may not have been the attack for the first Test.

Carse missed the first day because of sickness, with his place going to Tongue. Josh Tongue had opening batsman McKinney caught behind just after the break.

Although the captain took the wickets, Archer impressed observers. He was energetic with the fresh ball and once more after lunch, when he caused problems for Will Jacks.

In the omission of Shoaib Bashir and with Wood leaving the field, Joe Root was required to bowl 14 overs of his spin bowling. It was mediocre fare, conceding 117 at an run rate of over eight.

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