Ben Stokes Secures 6 Scalps in English Ashes Preparation Match

Tour game, Lilac Hill (day one of 3)

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

National team: still to bat

Ben Stokes delivered 6 scalps in his initial appearance since July but the tourists encountered an fitness worry about Mark Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up against the development squad in Western Australia.

Stokes, making his comeback after approximately four months out with a shoulder injury, delivered 16 overs across three bowling spells for his 6-52 versus the Lions – each to catches taken on the on-side.

Fast bowler Wood, also making his comeback after 9 months away with a knee injury, bowled a scheduled amount of 8 overs before leaving the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring issue. He will receive scanning on Friday.

Wood's injury sucked the energy out of the day, as the England Lions were dismissed for three hundred eighty-two on a sluggish pitch after an automatic toss at Lilac Hill.

The tourists wanted to bowl first to accumulate bowling time before the initial Test match at the main venue, beginning on November 21st.

In a possible hint towards their opening Test strategy, the visiting team fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialists plus Stokes – and omitted spin bowler Bashir in the development squad.

Jacob Bethell failed to press his claim for selection in the Test side, making just two runs, but Will Jacks enhanced his claim to be called upon later in the tour by swiping eighty-four.

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

England's plan to play a single practice match against the development squad has been questioned by some ex-players but Stokes hit back by calling the doubters "has-beens".

A low-pressure opening day in front of a smattering of spectators at the ground was definitely a world away from what the team will face at a sold-out Optus Stadium the following week.

Stokes was superb in the contest against the Indian team in the domestic season, only to push himself to breaking point. He missed the final Test with a torn shoulder.

The captain has not managed a complete participation in any of England's previous four tours because of different fitness issues and the team's hopes of regaining the series are vastly diminished if he is absent from any of the five matches in the host country.

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

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

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

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

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

In the absence of Shoaib Bashir and with Wood leaving the field, Root was required to bowl fourteen overs of his off-spin. It was average performance, costing 117 at an run rate of over eight.

Joe Root at least claimed a wicket in the final session when Fisher unexpectedly struck a full toss to the fielder before Jofra Archer dismissed with a bouncer Matthew Potts for 53 with the final ball of the day.