🔗 Share this article Ben Stokes Takes 6 Wickets in England Test Series Preparation Match Tour match, Perth venue (first day of 3) Development squad 382: Will Jacks 84, McKinney 67; Ben Stokes 6-52 England XI: awaiting batting Ben Stokes delivered 6 scalps in his return to play since July but England faced an fitness worry involving Mark Wood on the opening day of their Test preparation versus England Lions in Perth. Skipper's Outstanding Return The England captain, returning after approximately four months away with a shoulder problem, delivered sixteen overs across three bowling spells for his 6-52 against the Lions – each to catches on the on-side. Mark Wood's Fitness Concern Fast bowler Wood, himself returning after nine months out with a knee injury, delivered a pre-planned number of 8 overs before exiting the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring problem. He will undergo scanning on the following day. Wood's injury drained the intensity out of the day, as the England Lions were bowled out for 382 on a slow track after an automatic toss at the venue. Squad Strategy The tourists aimed to bowl first to build bowling fitness before the initial Test match at Optus Stadium, beginning on 21 November. In a possible hint towards their first-Test plans, the tourists selected an fast bowling lineup – four specialist bowlers plus Stokes – and omitted spin bowler Bashir in the Lions. Batting Standouts Bethell didn't strengthen his case for selection in the Test side, making only two, but Jacks boosted his claim to be selected during the series by scoring eighty-four. Ben McKinney, Jordan Cox, 17-year-old Rew and Potts also made fifties. Relaxed Atmosphere England's plan to play a solitary warm-up game against the development squad has been criticized by some former players but the captain responded by labeling the doubters "past players". A relaxed first day in front of a smattering of fans at the ground was definitely a different experience from what the team will face at a sold-out Optus Stadium next week. Stokes Excellent Performance The captain was excellent in the contest against India in the home summer, only to push himself to breaking point. He was absent from the final Test with a torn shoulder. The skipper has not completed a full part in any of England's past four series because of different fitness issues and the tourists' hopes of regaining the series are vastly diminished if he is absent from any of the five matches in Australia. He has been practicing at maximum speed for two months and appeared in fine shape on Wednesday, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his dismissals were gifted. Will Jacks Pushes Claim Will Jacks is not expected to play in the first Test – the team look to have shown their intentions 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 almost a run a ball. Even before the concern over Mark Wood, the five fast bowlers in the England XI for this game may not have been the bowling unit for the initial match. Brydon Carse missed the first day because of sickness, with his place going to Tongue. Tongue had opening batsman McKinney caught behind just after lunch. Though Stokes took the wickets, Jofra Archer impressed observers. He was energetic with the new ball and again after lunch, when he caused problems for Jacks. In the omission of Shoaib Bashir and with Wood leaving the field, Joe Root was asked to bowl 14 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 scalp in the closing stages when Fisher somehow struck a full toss to mid-on before Jofra Archer dismissed with a bouncer Potts for fifty-three with the last delivery of the day.