🔗 Share this article Ben Stokes Secures Six Wickets in English Ashes Preparation Match Practice match, Lilac Hill (first day of three) Development squad 382: Will Jacks 84, Ben McKinney 67; Ben Stokes 6-52 England XI: yet to bat The England captain achieved six wickets in his first action since July but England faced an fitness worry regarding Mark Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up versus the development squad in Western Australia. Captain's Outstanding Return The England captain, returning after approximately four months away with a shoulder problem, delivered 16 overs across three spells for his six for fifty-two versus England Lions – each to catches on the leg side. Wood's Fitness Worry Pace bowler Wood, himself returning after 9 months out with a knee injury, bowled a scheduled amount of 8 overs before exiting the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring issue. He will undergo scanning on Friday. Wood's injury removed the intensity out of the day, as the Lions were bowled out for three hundred eighty-two on a slow track after an automatic toss at Lilac Hill. Squad Strategy The tourists wanted to bowl first to build bowling fitness before the initial Test match at Optus Stadium, beginning on November 21st. In a potential indication towards their first-Test plans, the visiting team selected an all-pace attack – four specialist bowlers plus the captain – and left off-spinner Bashir in the Lions. Batting Performance Highlights Bethell failed to press his claim for selection in the Test team, making just two runs, but Will Jacks enhanced his claim to be selected during the series by scoring eighty-four. Ben McKinney, Cox, teenage Thomas Rew and Potts also made fifties. Low-key Atmosphere England's decision to play a solitary practice match against the Lions has been criticized by some ex-players but the captain responded by calling the doubters "has-beens". A low-pressure opening day in front of a smattering of spectators at the ground was definitely a world away from what the team will encounter at a packed main stadium the following week. Captain's Supreme Performance Stokes was superb in the series against the Indian team in the home summer, only to push himself to injury. He missed the last match with a shoulder tear. The skipper has not completed a full part in any of the team's past four series because of different fitness issues and the team's hopes of regaining the Ashes are vastly diminished if he misses any of the five Tests in the host country. He has been practicing at maximum speed for two months and looked in fine shape on Wednesday, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his wickets were gifted. Will Jacks Strengthens Claim Jacks is not expected to play in the opening match – the team look to have shown their intentions with the eleven named here. Still, he may have nudged himself in front of the out-of-sorts Bethell with his 84, which came at almost a run a ball. Prior to the concern over Wood, the five seamers in the team lineup for this game may not have been the bowling unit for the first Test. Brydon Carse was absent from the first day because of illness, with his place going to Tongue. Tongue had opening batsman McKinney caught behind just after the break. Although the captain took the wickets, Archer caught the eye. He was energetic with the new ball and once more after the interval, when he caused problems for Will Jacks. In the absence of Bashir and with Mark Wood departing, Root was required to deliver 14 overs of his spin bowling. It was average performance, costing 117 at an economy of more than eight. Root at least took a wicket in the final session when Fisher unexpectedly hit a full delivery to the fielder before Archer bounced out Matthew Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.