🔗 Share this article Ben Stokes Takes Six Scalps in English Ashes Warm-up Practice game, Lilac Hill (day one of three) Development squad 382: Jacks 84, McKinney 67; Ben Stokes 6-52 England XI: yet to bat The England captain produced 6 scalps in his return to play following July but the tourists encountered an fitness worry involving fast bowler Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up versus England Lions in Western Australia. Captain's Impressive Comeback Stokes, returning after almost four months away with a shoulder injury, delivered 16 overs across three spells for his six for fifty-two against England Lions – all to catches taken on the leg side. Wood's Injury Worry Pace bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after 9 months out with a knee injury, delivered a scheduled amount of 8 overs before leaving the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring problem. He will have a scan on the following day. Wood's injury sucked 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 the venue. Team Planning England wanted to field first to accumulate bowling time before the first Ashes Test at the main venue, beginning on 21 November. In a potential indication towards their first-Test plans, the visiting team fielded an all-pace attack – four specialist bowlers plus Stokes – and left spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in the development squad. Batting Performance Highlights Jacob Bethell failed to press his case for selection in the Test team, making just two runs, but Jacks enhanced his claim to be selected during the series by hitting 84. Ben McKinney, Jordan Cox, teenage Rew and Matthew Potts also made half-centuries. Relaxed Environment The team's decision to play a solitary warm-up game against the development squad has been questioned by some former players but the captain responded by labeling the critics "has-beens". A relaxed first day in front of a small crowd of spectators at Lilac Hill was certainly a world away from what the team will face at a packed main stadium the following week. Captain's Excellent Return Stokes 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 torn shoulder. The captain has not managed a complete participation in any of England's previous four tours because of different fitness issues and the team's hopes of regaining the series are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five Tests in Australia. He has been bowling at full pace for two months and appeared in fine shape on Wednesday, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his wickets were presented. Jacks Strengthens Claim Will Jacks is not expected to feature in the first Test – England look to have shown their hand with the eleven named here. Still, he may have nudged himself ahead of the out-of-sorts Bethell with his 84, which came at almost a run a ball. Even before the concern over Mark Wood, the five seamers in the team lineup for this game may not have been the attack for the first Test. Carse was absent from the first day because of illness, with his place going to Tongue. Josh Tongue had opening batsman Ben McKinney edging to the keeper just after the break. Although the captain took the scalps, Archer caught the eye. He was energetic with the new ball and again after lunch, when he discomforted Will Jacks. In the omission of Bashir and with Mark Wood departing, Root was asked 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 final session when Matt Fisher somehow hit a full delivery to mid-on before Jofra Archer bounced out Matthew Potts for fifty-three with the last delivery of the day.