🔗 Share this article Stokes Takes 6 Wickets in English Test Series Warm-up Tour match, Perth venue (day one of three) England Lions 382: Will Jacks 84, Ben McKinney 67; Stokes 6-52 England XI: yet to bat The England captain produced 6 scalps in his return to play after July but the tourists faced an fitness worry regarding fast bowler Wood on the opening day of their Test preparation against England Lions in Perth. Captain's Impressive Comeback The England captain, returning after nearly four months out with a shoulder injury, bowled sixteen overs across three bowling spells for his six for fifty-two versus the Lions – each to catches on the leg side. Wood's Injury Concern Fast bowler Mark Wood, also making his comeback after 9 months out with a knee problem, delivered a pre-planned number of eight overs before exiting the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring issue. He will receive scanning on Friday. Wood's injury drained the intensity out of the day, as the Lions were bowled out for three hundred eighty-two on a sluggish pitch after an uncontested toss at the venue. Squad Strategy The tourists aimed to field first to build bowling fitness before the first Ashes Test at the main venue, beginning on November 21st. In a possible hint towards their first-Test plans, the tourists selected an all-pace attack – four specialists plus Stokes – and left spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in the development squad. Batting Standouts Jacob Bethell failed to press his case for inclusion in the Test side, making only two, but Jacks boosted his claim to be selected during the series by hitting eighty-four. Ben McKinney, Cox, 17-year-old Rew and Potts also scored half-centuries. Low-key Environment The team's plan to play a single practice match against the development squad has been criticized by some ex-players but the captain responded by labeling the critics "past players". A low-pressure first day in front of a small crowd of spectators at Lilac Hill was certainly a different experience from what the team will face at a packed Optus Stadium the following week. Captain's Excellent Return The captain was excellent in the contest against the Indian team in the domestic season, only to push himself to breaking point. He was absent from the last match with a shoulder tear. The skipper has not managed a complete participation in any of England's past four series because of various injuries and the tourists' chances of regaining the series are vastly diminished if he is absent from any of the five matches in the host country. He has been practicing at full pace for two months and appeared in good condition on Wednesday, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his dismissals were gifted. Jacks Strengthens Case Jacks is not expected to play in the opening match – England look to have shown their hand with the eleven named here. Still, he may have moved himself in front of the out-of-sorts Bethell with his 84, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace. Prior to the concern over Wood, the five seamers in the England XI for this match may not have been the bowling unit for the initial match. Brydon Carse missed the opening day because of sickness, with his position going to Josh Tongue. Josh Tongue had opening batsman McKinney edging to the keeper just after the break. Although Stokes took the wickets, Archer impressed observers. He was energetic with the fresh ball and again after lunch, when he discomforted Jacks. In the absence of Bashir and with Mark Wood departing, Joe Root was asked to deliver 14 overs of his spin bowling. It was average performance, costing 117 at an economy of over eight. Joe Root at least claimed a scalp in the closing stages when Matt Fisher unexpectedly hit a full toss to mid-on before Archer bounced out Potts for fifty-three with the last delivery of the day.