🔗 Share this article Ben Stokes Claims Six Wickets in England Test Series Warm-up Tour match, Perth venue (first day of 3) Development squad 382: Will Jacks 84, McKinney 67; Ben Stokes 6-52 England XI: awaiting batting The England captain delivered 6 scalps in his first action following July but the tourists encountered an injury concern regarding fast bowler Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up against the development squad in Perth. Skipper's Impressive Return Stokes, 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 – all to catches taken on the on-side. Mark Wood's Injury Concern Pace bowler Wood, also making his comeback after nine months away with a knee problem, bowled a pre-planned number 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 energy out of the day, as the England Lions were bowled out for 382 on a sluggish pitch after an uncontested toss at Lilac Hill. 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 potential indication towards their opening Test strategy, the visiting team fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialist bowlers plus Stokes – and omitted off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in the development squad. Batting Performance Standouts Jacob Bethell failed to press his claim for selection in the Test side, making just two runs, but Will Jacks boosted his credentials to be called upon during the series by hitting 84. Ben McKinney, Jordan Cox, teenage Thomas Rew and Potts also scored half-centuries. Relaxed Environment England's decision to play a solitary practice match against the development squad has been criticized by some former players but the captain responded by calling the doubters "former players". A relaxed opening day in front of a small crowd of spectators at Lilac Hill was certainly a world away from what the team will encounter at a packed Optus Stadium next week. Stokes Supreme Return Stokes was superb in the contest against the Indian team in the domestic season, only to strain himself to breaking point. He was absent from the last match with a shoulder tear. The captain has not completed a complete participation in any of England's previous four tours because of various injuries and the tourists' chances 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 60 days and looked in fine shape on the match day, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his dismissals were presented. Will Jacks Strengthens Claim Will Jacks is unlikely to play in the opening match – the team look to have revealed their intentions with the XI selected here. Still, he may have nudged himself in front of the struggling Jacob Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at almost a run a ball. Even before the doubt over Wood, the five fast bowlers in the team lineup for this match may not have been the attack for the initial match. Carse missed the first day because of illness, with his position going to Tongue. Josh Tongue had Lions opener Ben McKinney caught behind just after lunch. Although Stokes took the wickets, Jofra Archer caught the eye. He was energetic with the fresh ball and again after lunch, when he caused problems for Will Jacks. In the absence of Bashir and with Mark Wood leaving the field, Root was required to deliver fourteen overs of his spin bowling. It was average performance, conceding 117 runs at an run rate of more than eight. Joe Root at least took a wicket in the closing stages when Fisher somehow hit a full delivery to the fielder before Archer dismissed with a bouncer Matthew Potts for 53 with the final ball of the day.