🔗 Share this article Ben Stokes Secures Six Wickets in English Ashes Preparation Match Tour game, Lilac Hill (first day of 3) Development squad 382: Jacks 84, McKinney 67; Ben Stokes 6-52 England XI: still to bat Ben Stokes achieved six wickets in his initial appearance after July but the tourists faced an injury concern involving Mark Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up against the development squad in Perth. Skipper's Outstanding Return Stokes, making his comeback after approximately four months out with a shoulder problem, delivered 16 overs across three spells for his six for fifty-two against England Lions – each to catches taken on the on-side. Wood's Fitness Concern Fast bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after nine months out with a knee problem, bowled a scheduled amount of 8 overs before exiting the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring issue. He will have a scan on Friday. 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. Team Strategy England aimed to bowl first to build bowling fitness 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 fielded an all-pace attack – four specialist bowlers plus the captain – and left spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in the Lions. Batting Highlights Jacob Bethell failed to press his case for inclusion in the Test side, making only two, but Will Jacks boosted his credentials to be selected later in the tour by hitting eighty-four. McKinney, Jordan Cox, 17-year-old Rew and Potts also scored fifties. Low-key Atmosphere England's decision to play a solitary warm-up game against the Lions has been questioned by some ex-players but Stokes hit back by calling the doubters "past players". A low-pressure first day in front of a small crowd of spectators at the ground was certainly a different experience from what the team will face at a packed main stadium next week. Captain's Supreme Performance The captain was excellent in the contest against India in the home summer, only to strain himself to breaking point. He was absent from the final Test with a shoulder tear. The skipper has not managed a full part in any of England's previous four series because of different fitness issues and the team's chances of winning back the Ashes are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five Tests in Australia. He has been practicing at full pace for 60 days and appeared in good condition on Wednesday, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his wickets were gifted. Jacks Strengthens Case Jacks is unlikely to feature in the first Test – England look to have revealed their intentions with the XI named here. Still, he may have moved himself ahead of the out-of-sorts Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace. Prior to the doubt over Mark Wood, the five seamers in the England XI for this match may not have been the attack for the first Test. Brydon Carse was absent from the first day because of illness, with his position going to Josh Tongue. Josh Tongue had Lions opener McKinney edging to the keeper just after the break. Though the captain took the scalps, Jofra Archer impressed observers. He was energetic with the new ball and again after the interval, when he caused problems for Jacks. In the absence of Bashir and with Wood departing, Root was asked to deliver fourteen overs of his spin bowling. It was mediocre fare, conceding 117 at an economy of more than eight. Joe Root at least claimed a scalp in the final session when Fisher somehow hit a full delivery to mid-on before Archer bounced out Matthew Potts for 53 with the final ball of the day.