🔗 Share this article Stokes Claims 6 Scalps in England Ashes Warm-up Practice game, Lilac Hill (first day of three) Development squad 382: Will Jacks 84, McKinney 67; Stokes 6-52 England XI: still 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 Test preparation versus England Lions in Western Australia. Skipper's Outstanding Comeback The England captain, making his comeback after approximately four months out with a shoulder problem, bowled sixteen overs across three spells for his 6-52 versus England Lions – all to catches taken on the leg side. Mark Wood's Fitness Worry Pace bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after nine months out with a knee injury, delivered a pre-planned number of 8 overs before leaving the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring problem. He will receive scanning on the following day. Wood's injury sucked the energy out of the day, as the England Lions were bowled out for three hundred eighty-two on a slow, low surface after an automatic toss at the venue. Squad Strategy The tourists aimed to field first to get overs in their legs before the initial Test match at Optus Stadium, starting on 21 November. In a possible hint towards their first-Test plans, the tourists selected an all-pace attack – four specialists plus the captain – and omitted spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in the Lions. Batting Performance Standouts Bethell didn't strengthen his case for inclusion in the Test side, making just two runs, but Jacks boosted his claim to be selected later in the tour by swiping eighty-four. McKinney, Jordan Cox, teenage Thomas Rew and Potts also made half-centuries. Low-key Environment 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 labeling the doubters "past players". A low-pressure first day in front of a smattering of spectators at Lilac Hill was certainly a different experience from what England will face at a packed main stadium the following week. Stokes Excellent Performance Stokes was superb in the contest against the Indian team in the home summer, only to strain himself to injury. He was absent from the final Test with a shoulder tear. The captain has not completed a full part in any of the team's previous four tours because of different fitness issues and the team's hopes of regaining the series are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five matches in Australia. He has been bowling at maximum speed for 60 days and looked in fine shape on the match day, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his dismissals were presented. Jacks Pushes Claim Will Jacks is unlikely to play in the first Test – the team look to have revealed their hand with the eleven named here. Still, he may have nudged himself in front of the out-of-sorts Jacob Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace. Prior to the concern over Mark Wood, the five seamers in the team lineup for this game may not have been the attack for the initial match. Brydon Carse missed the first day because of illness, with his position going to Josh Tongue. Tongue had Lions opener Ben McKinney caught behind just after lunch. Although the captain took the scalps, Jofra Archer impressed observers. He was lively with the new ball and again after the interval, when he discomforted Jacks. In the omission of Shoaib Bashir and with Mark Wood departing, Root was required to deliver fourteen overs of his off-spin. It was mediocre fare, costing 117 at an run rate of over eight. Joe Root at least claimed a scalp in the final session when Matt Fisher unexpectedly struck a full toss to mid-on before Jofra Archer dismissed with a bouncer Potts for 53 with the final ball of the day.