🔗 Share this article Stokes Takes 6 Wickets in England Test Series Warm-up Practice game, Lilac Hill (day one of 3) Development squad 382: Jacks 84, McKinney 67; Stokes 6-52 England XI: yet to bat Ben Stokes achieved six wickets in his first action following July but England faced an injury concern involving Mark Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up against the development squad in Western Australia. Skipper's Outstanding Comeback The England captain, returning after nearly four months away with a shoulder problem, bowled 16 overs across three bowling spells for his six for fifty-two against the Lions – all to catches taken on the leg side. Mark 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 exiting the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring problem. He will have a scan on the following day. Wood's injury drained the intensity out of the day, as the Lions were dismissed for 382 on a sluggish pitch after an automatic toss at Lilac Hill. Team Strategy The tourists wanted to bowl first to accumulate bowling time before the initial Test match at Optus Stadium, starting on 21 November. In a possible hint towards their first-Test plans, the visiting team fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialist bowlers plus the captain – and left spin bowler Bashir in the development squad. Batting Performance Standouts Bethell didn't strengthen his case for selection in the Test team, making only two, but Will Jacks enhanced his claim to be selected later in the tour by swiping 84. Ben McKinney, Cox, teenage Thomas Rew and Potts also made fifties. 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 Stokes responded by calling the critics "former players". A low-pressure opening day in front of a smattering of fans at Lilac Hill was definitely a different experience from what England will encounter at a packed Optus Stadium next week. Captain's Excellent Performance Stokes was superb in the series against the Indian team in the domestic season, only to push himself to injury. He was absent from the final Test with a torn shoulder. The skipper has not managed a complete participation in any of the team's past 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 60 days and appeared in fine shape on Wednesday, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his dismissals were presented. Jacks Strengthens Claim Will Jacks is unlikely to feature in the first Test – the team look to have shown their intentions with the XI selected here. Still, he may have moved himself in front of the out-of-sorts Jacob Bethell with his 84, which came at almost a run a ball. Even before the concern over Wood, the five fast bowlers in the England XI for this match may not have been the attack for the initial match. Carse was absent from the opening day because of illness, with his position going to Josh Tongue. Tongue had Lions opener McKinney caught behind just after lunch. Though the captain took the scalps, Archer caught the eye. He was energetic with the fresh ball and again after lunch, when he caused problems for Will Jacks. In the absence of Shoaib Bashir and with Mark Wood leaving the field, Joe Root was required to deliver 14 overs of his spin bowling. It was mediocre fare, costing 117 runs at an economy of more than eight. Root at least claimed a scalp in the closing stages when Fisher somehow hit a full toss to mid-on before Archer dismissed with a bouncer Potts for fifty-three with the final ball of the day.