🔗 Share this article Stokes Claims Six Scalps in England Ashes Preparation Match Tour match, Perth venue (day one of 3) Development squad 382: Will Jacks 84, Ben McKinney 67; Ben Stokes 6-52 National team: yet to bat Ben Stokes produced 6 scalps in his return to play after July but the tourists faced an fitness worry involving fast bowler Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up versus England Lions in Western Australia. Captain's Impressive Return Stokes, returning after nearly four months away with a shoulder injury, bowled sixteen overs across three spells for his 6-52 versus the Lions – each to catches on the leg side. Wood's Fitness Worry Fast bowler Wood, himself returning after 9 months away with a knee problem, bowled a pre-planned number of eight overs before leaving the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring issue. He will receive scanning on the following day. Wood's injury removed the intensity 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. Team Strategy The tourists wanted to field first to build bowling fitness before the first Ashes Test at the main venue, starting on 21 November. In a possible hint towards their first-Test plans, the tourists selected an all-pace attack – four specialist bowlers plus Stokes – and omitted off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in the development squad. Batting Standouts Jacob Bethell failed to press his case for inclusion in the Test side, making just two runs, but Will Jacks enhanced his credentials to be selected during the series by hitting eighty-four. McKinney, Cox, teenage Thomas 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 questioned by some former players but the captain hit back by calling the doubters "has-beens". A relaxed opening day in front of a smattering of spectators at Lilac Hill was definitely a world away from what the team will face at a packed Optus Stadium the following week. Captain's Excellent Performance Stokes was excellent in the contest against the Indian team in the domestic season, only to strain himself to breaking point. He missed the final Test with a torn shoulder. The skipper has not completed a full part in any of England's previous four tours because of different fitness issues and the tourists' chances of winning back the series are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five Tests in Australia. He has been practicing at maximum speed for 60 days and looked in fine shape on Wednesday, 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 shown their hand with the XI selected here. Still, he may have nudged himself ahead of the out-of-sorts Bethell with his 84, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace. Even before the concern over Mark Wood, the five seamers in the team lineup for this game may not have been the bowling unit for the initial match. Carse missed the opening day because of sickness, with his place going to Josh Tongue. Tongue had Lions opener McKinney edging to the keeper just after the break. Though the captain took the scalps, Archer impressed observers. He was energetic with the fresh ball and again after lunch, when he discomforted Jacks. In the absence of Bashir and with Wood leaving the field, Root was asked to bowl 14 overs of his off-spin. It was average performance, costing 117 at an economy of more than eight. Joe Root at least took a scalp in the final session when Fisher somehow struck a full delivery to mid-on before Jofra Archer bounced out Matthew Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.