Ben Stokes Claims 6 Wickets in England Ashes Preparation Match

Tour match, Lilac Hill (day one of 3)

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

England XI: yet to bat

The England captain achieved six wickets in his return to play following July but the tourists encountered an injury concern involving fast bowler Wood on the first day of their Test preparation against England Lions in Western Australia.

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

Pace bowler Mark Wood, also making his comeback after 9 months away with a knee problem, delivered a scheduled amount of eight overs before departing the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring issue. He will receive scanning on Friday.

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

England wanted to field first to accumulate bowling time before the initial Test match at the main venue, starting on 21 November.

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

Jacob Bethell didn't strengthen his claim for selection in the Test side, making only two, but Jacks enhanced his credentials to be called upon during the series by scoring 84.

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

England's plan to play a single warm-up game against the Lions has been criticized by some ex-players but Stokes hit back by labeling the critics "former players".

A relaxed opening day in front of a small crowd of fans at the ground was certainly a world away from what England will encounter at a packed Optus Stadium next week.

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

The captain has not managed a complete participation in any of England's previous four series because of different fitness issues and the tourists' chances of winning back the Ashes are vastly diminished if he misses any of the five Tests in the host country.

He has been practicing at full pace for 60 days and appeared 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 shown their intentions with the XI selected here. Still, he may have moved himself ahead of the out-of-sorts Jacob Bethell with his 84, which came at almost a run a ball.

Prior to the concern over Wood, the five fast bowlers in the England XI for this game may not have been the bowling unit for the initial match.

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

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

In the omission of Shoaib Bashir and with Mark Wood departing, Root was asked to bowl 14 overs of his spin bowling. It was average performance, costing 117 runs at an run rate of over eight.

Root at least claimed a wicket in the closing stages when Matt Fisher unexpectedly struck a full delivery to mid-on before Jofra Archer dismissed with a bouncer Potts for 53 with the final ball of the day.