Stokes Secures Six Scalps in English Ashes Warm-up

Practice match, Lilac Hill (first day of 3)

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

England XI: yet to bat

Ben Stokes produced 6 scalps in his first action following July but the tourists faced an fitness worry involving fast bowler Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up against England Lions in Western Australia.

Stokes, returning after almost four months away with a shoulder injury, bowled sixteen overs across three spells for his 6-52 versus the Lions – each to catches on the on-side.

Pace bowler Wood, himself returning after nine months away with a knee problem, bowled a pre-planned number of 8 overs before leaving the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring problem. He will have a scan on Friday.

The Wood situation drained the energy out of the day, as the England Lions were bowled out for 382 on a slow track after an uncontested toss at the venue.

England wanted to field first to get overs in their legs before the initial Test match at Optus Stadium, starting on November 21st.

In a potential indication towards their opening Test strategy, the visiting team fielded an all-pace attack – four specialist bowlers plus the captain – and omitted spin bowler Bashir in the Lions.

Jacob Bethell didn't strengthen his case for inclusion in the Test team, making just two runs, but Jacks enhanced his claim to be selected later in the tour by swiping 84.

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

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

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

The captain was superb in the contest against the Indian team in the domestic season, only to strain himself to injury. He missed the final Test with a torn shoulder.

The skipper has not managed a full part in any of the team's past four series because of various injuries and the team's chances of winning back the Ashes are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five Tests in Australia.

He has been practicing at full pace for 60 days and looked in fine shape on Wednesday, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his dismissals were presented.

Jacks is unlikely to play in the opening match – the team look to have revealed their intentions with the XI named here. Still, he may have moved himself in front of the out-of-sorts Jacob Bethell with his 84, which came at almost a run a ball.

Even before the concern over Wood, the five seamers in the England XI for this match may not have been the bowling unit for the first Test.

Carse missed the opening day because of sickness, with his position going to Tongue. Tongue had opening batsman Ben McKinney caught behind just after the break.

Though Stokes took the wickets, Archer caught the eye. He was energetic with the new ball and again after the interval, when he caused problems for Jacks.

In the omission of Shoaib Bashir and with Wood departing, Root was required to deliver 14 overs of his spin bowling. It was average performance, conceding 117 runs at an run rate of more than eight.

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