🔗 Share this article Ben Stokes Claims Six Wickets in England Ashes Warm-up Tour match, Perth venue (first day of 3) Development squad 382: Jacks 84, McKinney 67; Ben Stokes 6-52 National team: awaiting batting Ben Stokes produced 6 scalps in his first action since July but England faced an injury concern regarding Mark Wood on the first day of their Test preparation versus England Lions in Western Australia. Captain's Outstanding Comeback Stokes, returning after almost four months away with a shoulder problem, bowled 16 overs across three spells for his six for fifty-two against the Lions – each to catches taken on the on-side. Mark Wood's Injury Concern Pace bowler Mark Wood, also making his comeback after nine months away with a knee problem, bowled a scheduled amount of eight overs before leaving the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring issue. He will have a scan on the following day. The Wood situation removed the energy out of the day, as the Lions were bowled out for three hundred eighty-two on a sluggish pitch after an automatic toss at Lilac Hill. Team Planning The tourists aimed to bowl first to get overs in their legs before the first Ashes Test at the main venue, beginning on November 21st. In a potential indication towards their opening Test strategy, the visiting team selected an fast bowling lineup – four specialist bowlers plus Stokes – and left spin bowler Bashir in the development squad. Batting Performance Standouts Bethell didn't strengthen his case for selection in the Test team, making only two, but Jacks boosted his credentials to be selected later in the tour by scoring 84. Ben McKinney, Cox, 17-year-old Thomas Rew and Matthew Potts also scored half-centuries. Relaxed Environment England's decision to play a solitary practice match against the development squad has been questioned by some former players but Stokes hit back by calling the doubters "former players". A low-pressure opening day in front of a small crowd of fans at the ground was certainly a world away from what the team will face at a packed Optus Stadium next week. Stokes Excellent Performance Stokes was superb in the series against the Indian team in the home summer, only to strain himself to breaking point. He missed the last match with a torn shoulder. The captain has not managed a full part in any of the team's past four tours because of different fitness issues and the tourists' hopes of regaining the series are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five Tests in the host country. He has been practicing at full pace for 60 days and appeared in good condition on the match day, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his wickets were gifted. Will Jacks Pushes Case Jacks is not expected to play in the first Test – the team look to have revealed their intentions with the XI named here. Nevertheless, he may have moved himself in front of the out-of-sorts Bethell with his 84, which came at almost a run a ball. Prior to the concern over Wood, the five seamers in the England XI 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 position going to Tongue. Tongue had Lions opener Ben McKinney edging to the keeper just after the break. Although Stokes took the wickets, Jofra Archer caught the eye. He was lively with the fresh ball and again after the interval, when he caused problems for Jacks. In the absence of Shoaib Bashir and with Mark Wood leaving the field, Root was asked to bowl fourteen overs of his off-spin. It was mediocre fare, conceding 117 runs at an economy of more than eight. Root at least took a scalp in the final session when Fisher unexpectedly struck a full toss to mid-on before Jofra Archer dismissed with a bouncer Matthew Potts for 53 with the final ball of the day.