🔗 Share this article Stokes Takes Six Scalps in English Test Series Warm-up Practice game, Perth venue (first day of 3) England Lions 382: Jacks 84, McKinney 67; Ben Stokes 6-52 England XI: still to bat The England captain achieved 6 scalps in his initial appearance since July but England faced an injury concern about fast bowler Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up versus the development squad in Western Australia. Captain's Outstanding Return The England captain, making his comeback after approximately four months out with a shoulder problem, delivered 16 overs across three bowling spells for his 6-52 against the Lions – each to catches taken on the on-side. Mark Wood's Injury Worry Fast bowler Mark Wood, also making his comeback after 9 months out 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 the following day. The Wood situation drained 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. Squad Strategy England aimed to field first to get overs in their legs before the first Ashes Test at Optus Stadium, starting on November 21st. In a possible hint towards their opening Test strategy, the visiting team selected an fast bowling lineup – four specialists plus the captain – and omitted off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in the development squad. Batting Highlights Bethell failed to press his case for selection in the Test side, making only two, but Will Jacks enhanced his claim to be selected later in the tour by hitting eighty-four. Ben McKinney, Jordan Cox, 17-year-old Rew and Potts also scored fifties. Relaxed Environment The team's plan to play a solitary warm-up game against the development squad has been questioned by some ex-players but Stokes responded by calling the doubters "former players". A low-pressure first day in front of a small crowd of spectators at Lilac Hill was definitely a different experience from what England will face at a packed main stadium next week. Stokes Excellent Return Stokes was superb in the contest against the Indian team in the home summer, only to strain himself to injury. He missed the final Test with a shoulder tear. The skipper has not managed a full part in any of England's previous four series because of various injuries and the tourists' chances of regaining the series are vastly diminished if he is absent from any of the five Tests in the host country. He has been practicing at maximum speed for two months and appeared in fine shape on the match day, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his dismissals were gifted. Jacks Pushes Claim Jacks is not expected to feature in the opening match – England look to have revealed their intentions with the XI selected here. Still, he may have nudged himself in front of the out-of-sorts Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at almost a run a ball. Prior to the concern over Mark Wood, the five fast bowlers in the England XI for this game may not have been the bowling unit for the first Test. Brydon Carse was absent from the first day because of illness, with his position going to Josh Tongue. Tongue had Lions opener Ben McKinney edging to the keeper just after the break. Although Stokes took the wickets, Archer impressed observers. He was energetic with the fresh ball and once more after lunch, when he caused problems for Will Jacks. In the omission of Bashir and with Wood leaving the field, Root was asked to deliver fourteen overs of his off-spin. It was average performance, conceding 117 runs at an run rate of over eight. Root at least took a scalp in the final session when Matt Fisher unexpectedly hit a full delivery to the fielder before Jofra Archer dismissed with a bouncer Potts for fifty-three with the final ball of the day.