🔗 Share this article Ben Stokes Secures 6 Scalps in English Test Series Warm-up Practice game, Lilac Hill (first day of 3) England Lions 382: Will Jacks 84, Ben McKinney 67; Stokes 6-52 England XI: still to bat The England captain achieved six wickets in his return to play following July but England encountered an injury concern about fast bowler Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up against the development squad in Western Australia. Skipper's Outstanding Return Stokes, making his comeback after approximately four months away with a shoulder injury, delivered 16 overs across three spells for his 6-52 versus the Lions – each to catches on the leg side. Mark Wood's Injury Concern Pace bowler Mark Wood, also making his comeback after nine months out with a knee injury, delivered a pre-planned number of eight overs before leaving the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring problem. He will receive scanning on the following day. Wood's injury sucked the energy out of the day, as the England Lions were dismissed for three hundred eighty-two on a slow, low surface after an automatic toss at Lilac Hill. Team Planning The tourists wanted to bowl first to accumulate bowling time before the initial Test match at the main venue, starting on 21 November. In a potential indication towards their first-Test plans, the visiting team fielded an all-pace attack – four specialist bowlers plus the captain – and left spin bowler Bashir in the Lions. Batting Performance Standouts Jacob Bethell didn't strengthen his case for selection in the Test side, making just two runs, but Jacks enhanced his credentials to be selected later in the tour by hitting eighty-four. Ben McKinney, Cox, 17-year-old Thomas Rew and Matthew Potts also made fifties. Low-key Atmosphere England's decision to play a single warm-up game against the Lions has been criticized by some ex-players but the captain hit back by calling the critics "has-beens". A low-pressure opening day in front of a small crowd of spectators at the ground was definitely a different experience from what England will face at a packed Optus Stadium the following week. Captain's Supreme Return The captain was superb in the contest against the Indian team in the home summer, only to strain himself to injury. He missed the last match with a torn shoulder. The skipper has not completed a complete participation in any of England's past four series because of different fitness issues and the team's chances of winning back the series are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five Tests in the host country. He has been bowling 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 dismissals were gifted. Will Jacks Strengthens Case Jacks is not expected to feature in the opening match – England look to have shown their hand with the XI selected here. Nevertheless, he may have nudged himself in front of the out-of-sorts Bethell with his 84, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace. Prior to the concern over Mark Wood, the five fast bowlers in the team lineup for this match may not have been the bowling unit for the initial match. Carse was absent from the opening day because of sickness, with his position going to Josh Tongue. Tongue had Lions opener Ben McKinney caught behind just after the break. Although Stokes took the scalps, Jofra Archer impressed observers. He was lively with the fresh ball and again after the interval, when he caused problems for Jacks. In the omission of Bashir and with Mark Wood leaving the field, Joe Root was asked to deliver 14 overs of his off-spin. It was average performance, costing 117 runs at an run rate of more than eight. Root at least took a wicket in the final session when Matt Fisher somehow struck a full toss to mid-on before Archer dismissed with a bouncer Matthew Potts for fifty-three with the last delivery of the day.