Stokes Claims Six Wickets in England Ashes Warm-up

Tour game, Lilac Hill (first day of three)

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

England XI: still to bat

The England captain achieved 6 scalps in his initial appearance following July but England faced an injury concern regarding Mark Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up versus England Lions in Western Australia.

Stokes, making his comeback after almost four months away with a shoulder injury, bowled sixteen overs across three bowling spells for his 6-52 against the Lions – all to catches on the leg side.

Pace bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after 9 months out with a knee problem, delivered a pre-planned number of 8 overs before exiting the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring issue. He will undergo scanning on the following day.

Wood's injury removed the energy out of the day, as the England Lions were bowled out for three hundred eighty-two on a slow, low surface after an automatic toss at Lilac Hill.

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

In a potential indication towards their opening Test strategy, the tourists selected an all-pace attack – four specialists plus Stokes – and left off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in the Lions.

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

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

England's decision to play a single practice match against the Lions has been questioned by some ex-players but Stokes responded by calling the critics "past players".

A low-pressure opening day in front of a smattering of fans at Lilac Hill was definitely a world away from what England will face at a sold-out main stadium the following week.

Stokes was superb 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 past four tours because of various injuries and the tourists' chances of regaining the Ashes are vastly diminished if he misses any of the five matches in Australia.

He has been practicing at full pace for two months 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 feature in the first Test – England look to have revealed their intentions with the eleven selected here. Nevertheless, he may have moved himself in front of the out-of-sorts Bethell with his 84, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

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

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

Although the captain took the scalps, Jofra Archer impressed observers. He was lively with the new ball and once more after the interval, when he caused problems for Jacks.

In the absence of Shoaib Bashir and with Wood departing, Root was asked to bowl 14 overs of his off-spin. It was mediocre fare, costing 117 at an economy of over eight.

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