🔗 Share this article Ben Stokes Takes 6 Scalps in English Test Series Warm-up Tour match, Lilac Hill (day one of three) Development squad 382: Jacks 84, McKinney 67; Ben Stokes 6-52 National team: awaiting batting The England captain delivered six wickets in his return to play since July but England faced an injury concern about Mark Wood on the first day of their Test preparation versus England Lions in Western Australia. Skipper's Impressive Return The England captain, making his comeback after approximately four months out with a shoulder injury, delivered sixteen overs across three bowling spells for his 6-52 against the Lions – all to catches on the on-side. Wood's Fitness Worry Fast bowler Wood, himself returning after 9 months away with a knee injury, delivered a pre-planned number of eight overs before departing the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring issue. He will have a scan on the following day. The Wood situation drained the energy out of the day, as the England Lions were dismissed for 382 on a sluggish pitch after an uncontested toss at Lilac Hill. Squad Planning England aimed to bowl first to get overs in their legs before the first Ashes Test at the main venue, starting on November 21st. In a potential indication towards their first-Test plans, the tourists selected an all-pace attack – four specialist bowlers plus Stokes – and left off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in the development squad. Batting Performance Highlights Jacob Bethell didn't strengthen his claim for selection in the Test team, making only two, but Jacks enhanced his claim to be selected during the series by hitting eighty-four. McKinney, Cox, 17-year-old Rew and Potts also scored half-centuries. Low-key Environment The team's decision to play a solitary warm-up game against the Lions has been criticized by some ex-players but Stokes responded by calling the critics "former players". A low-pressure opening day in front of a small crowd of fans at Lilac Hill was definitely a different experience from what the team will face at a sold-out main stadium the following week. Captain's Excellent Return Stokes was excellent in the series against India in the home summer, only to push himself to injury. He missed the final Test with a shoulder tear. The captain has not managed a complete participation in any of the team's previous four tours because of various injuries and the tourists' chances of winning back the series are vastly diminished if he is absent from any of the five Tests in the host country. He has been practicing at full pace for 60 days 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 Pushes Claim Jacks is not expected to feature in the opening match – the team look to have shown their hand with the eleven named here. Nevertheless, he may have nudged himself in front of the out-of-sorts 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 England XI for this match may not have been the attack for the initial match. Brydon Carse missed the first day because of sickness, with his place going to Josh Tongue. Tongue had Lions opener Ben McKinney edging to the keeper just after the break. Though Stokes took the wickets, Jofra Archer impressed observers. He was energetic with the fresh ball and again after lunch, when he discomforted Will Jacks. In the absence of Shoaib Bashir and with Wood leaving the field, Joe Root was required to bowl fourteen overs of his off-spin. It was mediocre fare, conceding 117 runs at an run rate of more than eight. Joe Root at least claimed a wicket in the closing stages when Fisher unexpectedly struck a full toss to mid-on before Jofra Archer dismissed with a bouncer Matthew Potts for fifty-three with the last delivery of the day.