Stokes Claims Six Wickets in England Ashes Preparation Match

Practice game, Lilac Hill (day one of three)

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

England XI: still to bat

The England captain produced six wickets in his initial appearance since July but the tourists faced an injury concern about fast bowler Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up versus the development squad in Western Australia.

Stokes, making his comeback after nearly four months away with a shoulder problem, bowled sixteen overs across three spells for his six for fifty-two versus England Lions – all to catches on the on-side.

Fast bowler Wood, himself returning after 9 months away with a knee problem, delivered a pre-planned number of eight overs before departing the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring problem. He will have a scan on Friday.

Wood's injury sucked the energy out of the day, as the Lions were dismissed for 382 on a sluggish pitch after an uncontested toss at Lilac Hill.

The tourists wanted to bowl first to build bowling fitness before the initial Test match at Optus Stadium, beginning on November 21st.

In a possible hint towards their first-Test plans, the visiting team selected an all-pace attack – four specialist bowlers plus Stokes – and left spin bowler Bashir in the development squad.

Jacob Bethell failed to press his claim for inclusion in the Test team, making just two runs, but Jacks boosted his claim to be called upon during the series by swiping eighty-four.

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

The team's plan to play a solitary practice match against the development squad has been questioned by some former players but the captain responded by calling the doubters "has-beens".

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

Stokes was superb in the contest against the Indian team in the home summer, only to push 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 tours 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 Australia.

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

Will Jacks is not expected to feature in the opening match – England look to have shown their hand with the eleven named here. Still, he may have nudged himself ahead of the struggling Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

Even before the concern over Wood, the five seamers in the England XI for this match may not have been the attack for the initial match.

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

Though the captain took the wickets, Archer impressed observers. He was lively with the fresh ball and again after lunch, when he caused problems for Will Jacks.

In the omission of Bashir and with Wood leaving the field, Root was required to deliver fourteen overs of his spin bowling. It was mediocre fare, costing 117 runs at an economy of over eight.

Root at least took a scalp in the final session when Matt Fisher somehow struck a full toss to mid-on before Archer dismissed with a bouncer Matthew Potts for fifty-three with the final ball of the day.