🔗 Share this article Ben Stokes Takes 6 Wickets in English Ashes Warm-up Tour game, Perth venue (first day of three) Development squad 382: Will Jacks 84, McKinney 67; Ben Stokes 6-52 England XI: awaiting batting The England captain produced 6 scalps in his return to play since July but England faced an fitness worry about Mark Wood on the first day of their Test preparation versus England Lions in Perth. Captain's Outstanding Return Stokes, making his comeback after almost four months out with a shoulder injury, bowled 16 overs across three bowling spells for his 6-52 versus the Lions – all to catches taken on the leg side. Wood's Fitness Concern Pace bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after 9 months away with a knee injury, delivered a pre-planned number of eight overs before exiting the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring problem. He will receive scanning on Friday. Wood's injury removed the intensity out of the day, as the England Lions were dismissed for 382 on a sluggish pitch after an automatic toss at Lilac Hill. Team Planning England wanted to bowl first to build bowling fitness before the first Ashes Test at the main venue, beginning on 21 November. In a possible hint towards their first-Test plans, the tourists fielded an all-pace attack – four specialists plus the captain – and left off-spinner Bashir in the Lions. Batting Highlights Bethell failed to press his claim for inclusion in the Test team, making just two runs, but Jacks enhanced his credentials to be called upon during the series by scoring eighty-four. Ben McKinney, Cox, teenage Rew and Potts also scored half-centuries. Low-key Atmosphere The team's decision to play a single warm-up game against the Lions has been criticized by some ex-players but Stokes responded by calling the critics "past players". A relaxed first day in front of a small crowd of fans at the ground was definitely a different experience from what the team will encounter at a sold-out main stadium the following week. Captain's Excellent Performance The captain was superb in the contest against the Indian team in the home summer, only to strain himself to injury. He missed the last match with a shoulder tear. The captain has not managed a complete participation in any of England's past four series because of different fitness issues and the team's hopes of winning back the series are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five matches in the host country. He has been practicing at full pace for two months and appeared in fine shape on Wednesday, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his wickets were gifted. Jacks Strengthens Claim Jacks is not expected to play in the opening match – the team look to have shown their hand with the eleven selected here. Nevertheless, he may have moved himself ahead of the out-of-sorts Jacob Bethell with his 84, which came at almost a run a ball. Prior to the doubt over Wood, the five seamers in the team lineup for this match may not have been the bowling unit for the initial match. Brydon Carse was absent from the opening day because of illness, with his place going to Tongue. Tongue had Lions opener McKinney caught behind just after lunch. Although Stokes took the scalps, Jofra Archer caught the eye. He was energetic with the new ball and again after the interval, when he discomforted Jacks. In the absence of Shoaib Bashir and with Wood leaving the field, Root was required to bowl 14 overs of his spin bowling. It was mediocre fare, conceding 117 runs at an run rate of more than eight. Joe Root at least took a scalp in the final session when Matt Fisher somehow hit a full toss to the fielder before Jofra Archer dismissed with a bouncer Matthew Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.