🔗 Share this article Ben Stokes Secures 6 Scalps in English Ashes Preparation Match Tour match, Perth venue (day one of three) Development squad 382: Jacks 84, Ben McKinney 67; Stokes 6-52 National team: awaiting batting Ben Stokes achieved 6 scalps in his initial appearance following July but the tourists faced an fitness worry about Mark Wood on the first day of their Test preparation against the development squad in Western Australia. Captain's Outstanding Return The England captain, making his comeback after almost four months away with a shoulder problem, delivered sixteen overs across three spells for his 6-52 versus England Lions – each to catches on the leg side. Mark Wood's Fitness Concern Pace bowler Wood, also making his comeback after 9 months away with a knee problem, bowled a scheduled amount of 8 overs before departing the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring issue. He will undergo scanning on the following day. Wood's injury removed the intensity out of the day, as the England Lions were dismissed for three hundred eighty-two on a slow, low surface after an automatic toss at the venue. Team Strategy The tourists aimed to bowl first to build bowling fitness before the first Ashes Test at Optus Stadium, beginning on 21 November. In a potential indication towards their opening Test strategy, the visiting team fielded an all-pace attack – four specialists plus Stokes – and omitted spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in the Lions. Batting Performance Highlights Jacob Bethell failed to press his case for selection in the Test team, making just two runs, but Will Jacks enhanced his credentials to be called upon later in the tour by hitting 84. Ben McKinney, Jordan Cox, teenage Rew and Potts also made half-centuries. Relaxed Environment England's decision to play a solitary warm-up game against the development squad has been criticized 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 the ground was definitely a world away from what the team will face at a sold-out Optus Stadium next week. Stokes Excellent Return Stokes was excellent in the contest against India in the domestic season, only to push himself to injury. He missed the final Test with a torn shoulder. The skipper has not completed a full part in any of the team's past four series because of different fitness issues and the tourists' hopes of winning back the Ashes are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five Tests in Australia. He has been practicing at full pace for 60 days and looked in good condition on the match day, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his wickets were presented. Will Jacks Pushes Case Jacks is not expected to feature in the first Test – England look to have shown their intentions with the XI named here. Nevertheless, he may have moved himself ahead of the struggling Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at almost a run a ball. Even before the concern over Mark Wood, the five seamers in the England XI for this game may not have been the attack for the first Test. Brydon Carse was absent from the opening day because of sickness, with his place going to Tongue. Josh Tongue had opening batsman McKinney caught behind just after the break. Although the captain took the scalps, Archer impressed observers. He was energetic with the fresh ball and once more after the interval, when he caused problems for Will Jacks. In the absence of Shoaib Bashir and with Mark Wood departing, Root was required to bowl 14 overs of his spin bowling. It was mediocre fare, costing 117 at an economy of over eight. Joe Root at least took a scalp in the closing stages when Fisher unexpectedly hit a full delivery to mid-on before Jofra Archer dismissed with a bouncer Matthew Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.