🔗 Share this article Stokes Takes 6 Scalps in English Test Series Preparation Match Tour game, Lilac Hill (first day of three) England Lions 382: Will Jacks 84, Ben McKinney 67; Ben Stokes 6-52 England XI: awaiting batting Ben Stokes delivered 6 scalps in his return to play following July but the tourists faced an injury concern involving Mark Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up against England Lions in Western Australia. Skipper's Impressive Return Stokes, returning after approximately four months out with a shoulder injury, delivered sixteen overs across three bowling spells for his six for fifty-two versus England Lions – all to catches taken on the on-side. Mark Wood's Fitness Worry Fast 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 receive scanning on Friday. Wood's injury removed the intensity out of the day, as the England Lions were bowled out for three hundred eighty-two on a slow, low surface after an automatic toss at the venue. Team Strategy England wanted to bowl first to build bowling fitness before the initial Test match at Optus Stadium, starting on 21 November. In a potential indication towards their first-Test plans, the visiting team selected an fast bowling lineup – four specialists plus Stokes – and left spin bowler Bashir in the development squad. Batting Standouts Bethell failed to press his case for inclusion in the Test side, making just two runs, but Will Jacks enhanced his claim to be called upon during the series by swiping eighty-four. McKinney, Jordan Cox, teenage Rew and Potts also scored half-centuries. Low-key Environment The team's decision to play a single warm-up game against the Lions has been criticized by some former players but Stokes responded by labeling the critics "former players". A relaxed opening day in front of a small crowd of spectators at the ground was definitely a world away from what the team will encounter at a sold-out main stadium the following week. Stokes Supreme Performance Stokes was superb in the contest against the Indian team in the home summer, only to push 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 tourists' chances of winning back the Ashes are significantly reduced if he is absent from any of the five matches in Australia. He has been bowling at full pace for two months and appeared in fine shape on the match day, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his wickets were presented. Jacks Pushes Claim Will Jacks is not expected to feature in the first Test – the team look to have revealed their hand with the XI selected here. Still, he may have moved himself ahead of the out-of-sorts Bethell with his 84, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace. Even before the concern over Mark Wood, the five seamers in the team lineup for this game may not have been the bowling unit for the first Test. Carse missed the opening day because of sickness, with his place going to Tongue. Tongue had Lions opener Ben McKinney caught behind just after the break. Although the captain took the scalps, Archer caught the eye. He was lively with the new ball and again after the interval, when he discomforted Will Jacks. In the omission of Bashir and with Wood leaving the field, Root was asked to deliver 14 overs of his spin bowling. It was mediocre fare, costing 117 at an run rate of over eight. Root at least took a scalp in the closing stages when Matt Fisher somehow hit a full toss to the fielder before Archer bounced out Matthew Potts for 53 with the final ball of the day.