🔗 Share this article Ben Stokes Takes 6 Scalps in English Ashes Preparation Match Tour match, Perth venue (day one of 3) England Lions 382: Will Jacks 84, McKinney 67; Ben Stokes 6-52 England XI: yet to bat The England captain delivered 6 scalps in his first action after July but England encountered an injury concern involving fast bowler Wood on the first day of their Test preparation versus the development squad in Western Australia. Skipper's Impressive Return The England captain, making his comeback after approximately four months away with a shoulder injury, bowled sixteen overs across three spells for his six for fifty-two versus the Lions – all to catches on the leg side. Mark Wood's Injury Worry Fast bowler Mark Wood, also making his comeback after nine months out with a knee injury, bowled a scheduled amount of eight overs before departing the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring issue. He will have a scan on the following day. Wood's injury drained the intensity out of the day, as the England Lions were bowled out for three hundred eighty-two on a sluggish pitch after an uncontested toss at Lilac Hill. Team Planning The tourists wanted to bowl first to get overs in their legs before the first Ashes Test at the main venue, beginning on 21 November. In a potential indication towards their first-Test plans, the tourists selected an all-pace attack – four specialists plus the captain – and omitted spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in the Lions. Batting Standouts Jacob Bethell didn't strengthen his case for selection in the Test team, making only two, but Jacks boosted his credentials to be selected during the series by hitting eighty-four. McKinney, Jordan Cox, teenage Thomas Rew and Potts also scored half-centuries. Low-key Atmosphere England's plan to play a solitary practice match against the Lions has been questioned by some former players but Stokes responded by labeling the critics "former players". A relaxed first day in front of a small crowd of spectators at the ground was certainly a world away from what the team will face at a sold-out main stadium the following week. Captain's Excellent Return The captain was superb in the series against India in the domestic season, only to strain himself to injury. He missed the last match with a shoulder tear. The captain has not managed a full part in any of England's previous four series because of various injuries and the team's hopes of regaining the Ashes are vastly diminished if he is absent from any of the five matches in Australia. He has been bowling at full pace for two months and looked in good condition on Wednesday, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his wickets were gifted. Jacks Pushes Claim Jacks is unlikely to play in the opening match – England look to have revealed their hand with the XI selected here. Nevertheless, he may have moved himself in front of the out-of-sorts Jacob Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace. Prior to the doubt over Wood, the five seamers in the England XI for this game may not have been the attack for the first Test. Carse was absent from the opening day because of illness, with his position going to Josh Tongue. Josh Tongue had Lions opener Ben McKinney caught behind just after lunch. Although the captain took the wickets, Archer impressed observers. He was energetic with the fresh ball and once more after the interval, when he discomforted Will Jacks. In the omission of Bashir and with Wood departing, Joe Root was asked to deliver 14 overs of his off-spin. It was mediocre fare, costing 117 runs at an run rate of more than eight. Joe Root at least claimed a scalp in the final session when Fisher somehow struck a full delivery to the fielder before Archer dismissed with a bouncer Potts for 53 with the final ball of the day.