🔗 Share this article Ben Stokes Claims 6 Wickets in English Ashes Preparation Match Tour game, Perth venue (first day of 3) England Lions 382: Jacks 84, Ben McKinney 67; Ben Stokes 6-52 England XI: yet to bat Ben Stokes delivered 6 scalps in his first action following July but the tourists encountered an fitness worry about Mark Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up versus England Lions in Perth. Captain's Outstanding Comeback Stokes, returning after approximately four months out with a shoulder problem, delivered 16 overs across three bowling spells for his six for fifty-two against the Lions – each to catches taken on the on-side. Wood's Fitness Concern Pace bowler Mark Wood, also making his comeback after 9 months out with a knee injury, delivered a scheduled amount of 8 overs before exiting the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring issue. He will have a scan on Friday. The Wood situation 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 Lilac Hill. Team Strategy England wanted to bowl first to accumulate bowling time before the initial Test match at Optus Stadium, starting on November 21st. In a potential indication towards their first-Test plans, the tourists selected an fast bowling lineup – four specialists plus Stokes – and left off-spinner Bashir in the development squad. Batting Performance Standouts Bethell didn't strengthen his claim for selection in the Test team, making just two runs, but Will Jacks boosted his claim to be called upon later in the tour by hitting 84. McKinney, Jordan Cox, 17-year-old Rew and Potts also made half-centuries. Relaxed Environment The team's plan to play a solitary warm-up game against the Lions has been criticized by some ex-players but Stokes responded by calling the doubters "has-beens". A low-pressure first 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 main stadium next week. Stokes Excellent Performance The captain was superb in the contest against India in the domestic season, only to push himself to injury. He missed the last match with a torn shoulder. The skipper has not managed a complete participation in any of England's past four tours because of different fitness issues and the team's chances of regaining the Ashes are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five Tests in Australia. He has been bowling at full pace for two months 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. Jacks Pushes Claim Will Jacks is unlikely to feature in the first Test – England look to have revealed their hand with the eleven selected here. Still, he may have moved himself in front of the struggling Jacob Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace. Prior to the concern over Mark Wood, the five fast bowlers in the team lineup for this game may not have been the attack for the first Test. Carse missed the first day because of illness, with his position going to Josh Tongue. Josh Tongue had opening batsman Ben McKinney caught behind just after the break. Although the captain took the wickets, Jofra Archer impressed observers. He was lively with the new ball and once more after lunch, when he discomforted Will Jacks. In the omission of Shoaib Bashir and with Mark Wood departing, Root was asked to bowl 14 overs of his spin bowling. It was average performance, conceding 117 runs at an economy of over eight. Root at least claimed a wicket in the final session when Fisher somehow hit a full toss to mid-on before Jofra Archer bounced out Matthew Potts for 53 with the final ball of the day.