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England captain Ben Stokes took six wickets on the opening day of his side’s solitary warm-up match before the Ashes kick off next week.
Stokes returned after nearly four months out with a shoulder injury, and bowled 16 runs in three spells for 6-52 against the England Lions – all to catch the leg side.
Fast bowler Mark Wood, back after nine months out with a knee injury, bowled a pre-planned number of eight overs before leaving the field in the afternoon session with a hamstring problem. He will undergo an examination on Friday.
Wood’s injury absorbed the intensity of the day, as the Lions were bowled out for 382 on a slow, low surface after an uncontested throw at Lilac Hill.
England wanted to be involved first to beat their legs ahead of the first Ashes Test at Optus Stadium, starting on November 21.
In a possible hint towards plans for the first Test, the tourists launched an all-out attack – four specialists plus Stokes – and left spinner Shoaib Bashir in the Lions’ side.
Jacob Bethell failed to press his case for inclusion in the Test side, making just two, but Willjacks strengthened his claim to be called up later in the tour by batting 84.
Ben McKennie, Jordan Cox, 17-year-old Thomas Rio and Matthew Potts also made half-centuries.
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