🔗 Share this article Ben Stokes Secures 6 Wickets in England Test Series Preparation Match Practice match, Lilac Hill (day one of three) Development squad 382: Will Jacks 84, Ben McKinney 67; Stokes 6-52 National team: awaiting batting The England captain produced six wickets in his initial appearance since July but England faced an fitness worry involving fast bowler Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up against England Lions in Western Australia. Skipper's Impressive Return Stokes, making his comeback after almost four months away with a shoulder injury, delivered sixteen overs across three bowling spells for his 6-52 against the Lions – all to catches on the on-side. Wood's Fitness Worry Fast bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after 9 months out with a knee injury, bowled a scheduled amount of eight overs before leaving the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring problem. He will have a scan on Friday. The Wood situation drained the intensity out of the day, as the England Lions were bowled out for three hundred eighty-two on a slow track after an uncontested toss at Lilac Hill. Squad Planning England aimed to field first to accumulate bowling time before the first Ashes Test at the main venue, starting on November 21st. In a potential indication towards their opening Test strategy, the visiting team selected an fast bowling lineup – four specialist bowlers plus the captain – and left spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in the Lions. Batting Standouts Jacob Bethell failed to press his claim for selection in the Test side, making only two, but Jacks enhanced his credentials to be selected later in the tour by scoring eighty-four. Ben McKinney, Jordan Cox, 17-year-old Rew and Matthew Potts also scored half-centuries. Relaxed Environment England's plan to play a solitary warm-up game against the development squad has been questioned by some former players but the captain hit back by labeling the critics "former players". A low-pressure first day in front of a small crowd of spectators at Lilac Hill was definitely a different experience from what England will face at a packed Optus Stadium next week. Captain's Excellent Performance The captain was excellent in the series against the Indian team in the domestic season, only to strain himself to injury. He missed the last match with a shoulder tear. The skipper has not completed a complete participation in any of the team's previous four series because of different fitness issues and the team's chances of regaining the Ashes are vastly diminished if he misses any of the five Tests in the host country. He has been bowling at maximum speed for 60 days and looked in good condition on the match day, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his dismissals were gifted. Will Jacks Pushes Claim Will Jacks is not expected to play in the first Test – England look to have shown their hand with the XI selected here. Still, he may have nudged himself in front of the struggling Jacob Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace. Even before the doubt over Mark Wood, the five seamers in the England XI for this match may not have been the bowling unit for the first Test. Carse was absent from the first day because of sickness, with his position going to Josh Tongue. Tongue had opening batsman Ben McKinney edging to the keeper just after the break. Though Stokes took the scalps, Archer impressed observers. He was lively with the fresh ball and again after lunch, when he discomforted Jacks. In the omission of Shoaib Bashir and with Mark Wood departing, Joe Root was required to deliver fourteen overs of his spin bowling. It was mediocre fare, conceding 117 at an run rate of more than eight. Joe Root at least claimed a wicket in the final session when Matt Fisher unexpectedly struck a full toss to the fielder before Jofra Archer dismissed with a bouncer Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.