🔗 Share this article Ben Stokes Takes 6 Scalps in England Test Series Preparation Match Practice match, Lilac Hill (first day of 3) Development squad 382: Jacks 84, McKinney 67; Ben Stokes 6-52 England XI: yet to bat The England captain produced 6 scalps in his first action after July but England faced an fitness worry about Mark Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up versus England Lions in Perth. Skipper's Impressive Return The England captain, returning after almost four months away with a shoulder problem, delivered sixteen overs across three spells for his six for fifty-two versus the Lions – each to catches on the leg side. Wood's Fitness Concern Pace bowler Wood, himself returning after 9 months out with a knee injury, bowled a scheduled amount of 8 overs before leaving the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring problem. He will have a scan on the following day. Wood's injury sucked the intensity out of the day, as the England Lions were bowled out for three hundred eighty-two on a sluggish pitch after an automatic toss at the venue. Team Strategy The tourists wanted to bowl first to get overs in their legs before the first Ashes Test at the main venue, beginning on 21 November. In a potential indication towards their first-Test plans, the tourists selected an fast bowling lineup – four specialists plus Stokes – and left off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in the Lions. Batting Highlights Jacob Bethell failed to press his claim for inclusion in the Test team, making only two, but Jacks enhanced his claim to be called upon later in the tour by swiping 84. McKinney, Cox, teenage Thomas Rew and Matthew Potts also scored fifties. Relaxed Atmosphere England's decision to play a single practice match against the Lions has been criticized by some ex-players but the captain responded by calling the critics "former players". A low-pressure first day in front of a small crowd of spectators at the ground was definitely a different experience from what England will encounter at a packed Optus Stadium the following week. Stokes Supreme Return Stokes was superb in the contest against the Indian team in the home summer, only to push himself to injury. He missed the final Test with a torn shoulder. The captain has not completed a full part in any of England's past four series because of different fitness issues and the team's chances of winning back the series are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five matches in Australia. He has been practicing at full pace for two months and appeared in fine shape on the match day, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his wickets were presented. Jacks Pushes Claim Will Jacks is unlikely to feature in the opening match – England look to have revealed their intentions with the eleven named here. Still, he may have nudged himself ahead of the out-of-sorts Jacob Bethell with his eighty-four, 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 attack for the first Test. Brydon Carse missed the opening day because of sickness, with his place going to Josh Tongue. Tongue had opening batsman McKinney caught behind just after the break. Although the captain took the scalps, Archer caught the eye. He was lively with the new ball and again after lunch, when he discomforted Will Jacks. In the omission of Bashir and with Wood leaving the field, Joe Root was asked to bowl 14 overs of his spin bowling. It was average performance, costing 117 runs at an economy of over eight. Joe Root at least claimed a scalp in the closing stages when Matt Fisher somehow hit a full toss to mid-on before Archer bounced out Matthew Potts for fifty-three with the final ball of the day.