🔗 Share this article Stokes Secures Six Scalps in England Ashes Preparation Match Tour match, Perth venue (day one of three) Development squad 382: Jacks 84, Ben McKinney 67; Stokes 6-52 National team: yet to bat The England captain produced 6 scalps in his first action since July but England faced an injury concern involving Mark Wood on the opening day of their Test preparation versus England Lions in Western Australia. Skipper's Impressive Comeback Stokes, returning after almost four months away with a shoulder problem, delivered sixteen overs across three spells for his 6-52 against the Lions – each to catches taken on the leg side. Wood's Fitness Worry Pace bowler Wood, also making his comeback after nine months away with a knee injury, bowled a pre-planned number of eight overs before departing the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring problem. He will have a scan on the following day. The Wood situation sucked the energy out of the day, as the England Lions were dismissed for 382 on a slow, low surface after an uncontested toss at the venue. Squad Strategy England wanted to field first to get overs in their legs before the first Ashes Test at Optus Stadium, starting on 21 November. In a potential indication towards their first-Test plans, the visiting team fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialists plus Stokes – and left spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in the development squad. Batting Standouts Bethell failed to press his case for inclusion in the Test side, making just two runs, but Will Jacks enhanced his claim to be called upon later in the tour by hitting 84. Ben McKinney, Jordan Cox, 17-year-old Rew and Matthew Potts also scored fifties. Relaxed Environment The team's decision to play a solitary practice match against the development squad has been criticized by some ex-players but the captain hit back by labeling the critics "has-beens". A relaxed first day in front of a small crowd of fans at Lilac Hill was certainly a different experience from what England will encounter at a packed main stadium the following week. Stokes Excellent Return The captain was superb in the contest against the Indian team in the home summer, only to push himself to injury. He was absent from the last match with a shoulder tear. The skipper has not managed a complete participation in any of the team's previous four series because of different fitness issues and the tourists' hopes of regaining the series are vastly diminished if he is absent from any of the five Tests in the host country. He has been bowling at full pace for two months 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 Strengthens Claim Will Jacks is not expected to play in the first Test – the team look to have shown their intentions with the XI selected here. Nevertheless, he may have moved himself in front of the struggling Jacob Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace. Even before the concern over Wood, the five fast bowlers in the team lineup for this game may not have been the attack for the initial match. Carse was absent from the first day because of sickness, with his position going to Josh Tongue. Tongue had Lions opener McKinney caught behind just after lunch. Though the captain took the wickets, Jofra Archer impressed observers. He was energetic with the new ball and once more after the interval, when he discomforted Will Jacks. In the omission of Shoaib Bashir and with Wood leaving the field, Root was required to bowl fourteen overs of his off-spin. It was mediocre fare, costing 117 at an run rate of over eight. Root at least claimed a wicket in the closing stages when Fisher unexpectedly struck a full delivery to mid-on before Archer bounced out Potts for fifty-three with the final ball of the day.