🔗 Share this article Stokes Claims 6 Wickets in English Ashes Preparation Match Tour game, Perth venue (day one of 3) England Lions 382: Will Jacks 84, Ben McKinney 67; Stokes 6-52 National team: awaiting batting The England captain achieved six wickets in his initial appearance since July but the tourists faced an fitness worry regarding Mark Wood on the first day of their Test preparation against the development squad in Perth. Skipper's Impressive Return The England captain, returning after approximately four months away with a shoulder problem, delivered 16 overs across three spells for his 6-52 against England Lions – all to catches on the on-side. Mark Wood's Fitness Worry Pace bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after 9 months out with a knee problem, delivered a scheduled amount of eight overs before leaving the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring problem. He will receive scanning on the following day. The Wood situation drained the intensity out of the day, as the England Lions were dismissed for 382 on a sluggish pitch after an automatic toss at Lilac Hill. Team Strategy The tourists wanted to bowl first to build bowling fitness before the first Ashes Test at the main venue, starting on 21 November. In a potential indication towards their opening Test strategy, the visiting team selected an all-pace attack – four specialist bowlers plus Stokes – and left spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in the development squad. Batting Performance Highlights Jacob Bethell failed to press his case for inclusion in the Test side, making just two runs, but Will Jacks boosted his claim to be selected later in the tour by hitting 84. Ben McKinney, Jordan Cox, 17-year-old Rew and Matthew Potts also made half-centuries. Relaxed Atmosphere The team's decision to play a single warm-up game against the development squad has been questioned by some former players but the captain responded by calling the critics "past players". A low-pressure first day in front of a smattering of spectators at the ground was certainly a different experience from what England will face at a packed Optus Stadium next week. Captain's Supreme Performance The captain was excellent in the series against India in the domestic season, only to strain himself to breaking point. He was absent from the final Test with a shoulder tear. The captain has not completed a full part in any of the team's previous four tours because of various injuries and the tourists' hopes of regaining the Ashes are significantly reduced if he is absent from any of the five matches 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 Strengthens Case Will Jacks is unlikely to play in the first Test – the team look to have revealed their intentions with the eleven selected here. Still, he may have moved himself in front of the out-of-sorts Jacob Bethell with his 84, which came at almost a run a ball. Prior to the doubt over Mark Wood, the five fast bowlers in the England XI for this match may not have been the bowling unit for the first Test. Brydon Carse missed the opening day because of illness, with his place going to Josh Tongue. Tongue had Lions opener McKinney caught behind just after lunch. Although the captain took the scalps, Archer impressed observers. He was energetic with the new ball and again after lunch, when he discomforted Jacks. In the absence of Shoaib Bashir and with Mark Wood leaving the field, Root was required to deliver 14 overs of his off-spin. It was average performance, costing 117 at an run rate of more than eight. Joe Root at least claimed a scalp in the closing stages when Matt Fisher unexpectedly struck a full delivery to the fielder before Archer dismissed with a bouncer Matthew Potts for 53 with the final ball of the day.