Ben Stokes Takes Six Wickets in English Test Series Warm-up

Practice match, Lilac Hill (first day of 3)

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

National team: still to bat

The England captain delivered 6 scalps in his return to play following July but the tourists encountered an injury concern regarding fast bowler Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up against the development squad in Western Australia.

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

Fast bowler Wood, also making his comeback after nine months away with a knee injury, delivered 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.

The Wood situation removed the energy out of the day, as the Lions were dismissed for three hundred eighty-two on a sluggish pitch after an uncontested toss at the venue.

England aimed to bowl first to get overs in their legs before the first Ashes Test at Optus Stadium, starting on November 21st.

In a potential indication towards their first-Test plans, the tourists selected an fast bowling lineup – four specialist bowlers plus Stokes – and omitted spin bowler Bashir in the development squad.

Jacob Bethell didn't strengthen his case for selection in the Test side, making only two, but Jacks boosted his credentials to be called upon during the series by scoring eighty-four.

Ben McKinney, Cox, 17-year-old Thomas Rew and Matthew Potts also made fifties.

England's plan to play a solitary warm-up game against the Lions has been questioned by some former players but Stokes responded by calling the doubters "has-beens".

A low-pressure first day in front of a small crowd of fans at Lilac Hill was definitely a world away from what the team will encounter at a sold-out Optus Stadium next week.

The captain was excellent 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 shoulder tear.

The skipper has not completed a full part in any of the team's past four series because of different fitness issues and the tourists' hopes of winning back the Ashes are vastly diminished if he is absent from any of the five Tests in Australia.

He has been practicing at maximum speed for two months and looked in good condition on the match day, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his wickets were gifted.

Will Jacks is not expected to feature in the first Test – England look to have revealed their hand with the eleven named here. Nevertheless, he may have nudged himself ahead of the out-of-sorts Bethell with his 84, which came at almost a run a ball.

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 initial match.

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

Though Stokes took the scalps, Jofra Archer impressed observers. He was energetic with the fresh ball and once more after the interval, when he discomforted Jacks.

In the absence of Bashir and with Mark Wood departing, Root was required to bowl fourteen overs of his spin bowling. It was average performance, costing 117 runs at an economy of over eight.

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