Stokes Secures 6 Wickets in England Test Series Preparation Match

Practice match, Lilac Hill (day one of 3)

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

National team: awaiting batting

The England captain produced six wickets in his return to play after July but the tourists faced an injury concern about fast bowler Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up versus the development squad in Western Australia.

The England captain, returning after almost four months away with a shoulder injury, delivered 16 overs across three spells for his six for fifty-two versus England Lions – all to catches taken on the leg side.

Pace bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after nine months out with a knee injury, delivered a pre-planned number of 8 overs before exiting the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring problem. He will undergo scanning on Friday.

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

The tourists wanted to field 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 specialists plus the captain – and left spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in the development squad.

Bethell failed to press his claim for selection in the Test team, making only two, but Will Jacks enhanced his credentials to be selected during the series by swiping 84.

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

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

A relaxed first day in front of a small crowd of spectators at Lilac Hill was certainly a world away from what England will encounter at a sold-out Optus Stadium the following week.

The captain was excellent in the series against India in the home summer, only to push 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 England's previous four series because of different fitness issues and the tourists' chances of regaining the Ashes are significantly reduced if he is absent from any of the five matches in Australia.

He has been bowling at full pace for two months and appeared in good condition on the match day, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his wickets were gifted.

Jacks is not expected to feature in the first Test – England look to have shown their intentions with the eleven selected here. Nevertheless, he may have nudged himself in front of the out-of-sorts Jacob Bethell with his 84, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.

Even before the concern over Wood, the five fast bowlers in the team lineup for this game may not have been the bowling unit for the initial match.

Carse missed the first day because of sickness, with his place going to Tongue. Josh Tongue had Lions opener McKinney edging to the keeper just after lunch.

Though Stokes took the scalps, Archer caught the eye. He was lively with the fresh ball and again after the interval, when he discomforted Jacks.

In the absence of Bashir and with Wood departing, Root was asked to deliver 14 overs of his spin bowling. It was average performance, costing 117 at an run rate of more than eight.

Joe Root at least took a scalp in the closing stages when Matt Fisher somehow hit a full toss to the fielder before Archer dismissed with a bouncer Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.