🔗 Share this article Ben Stokes Secures 6 Wickets in England Ashes Warm-up Practice game, Lilac Hill (first day of 3) Development squad 382: Will Jacks 84, Ben McKinney 67; Ben Stokes 6-52 England XI: yet to bat The England captain produced 6 scalps in his initial appearance after July but England encountered an injury concern involving Mark Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up versus England Lions in Western Australia. Captain's Outstanding Comeback The England captain, returning after almost four months away with a shoulder problem, bowled sixteen overs across three bowling spells for his 6-52 against England Lions – each to catches on the leg side. Mark Wood's Injury Concern Pace bowler Wood, also making his comeback after 9 months out with a knee problem, bowled a scheduled amount of 8 overs before leaving the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring issue. He will have a scan on the following day. Wood's injury removed the energy out of the day, as the England Lions were bowled out for three hundred eighty-two on a sluggish pitch after an uncontested toss at the venue. Squad Planning The tourists aimed to bowl first to build bowling fitness before the initial Test match at Optus Stadium, starting on 21 November. In a potential indication towards their first-Test plans, the visiting team selected an all-pace attack – four specialists plus the captain – and omitted off-spinner Bashir in the Lions. Batting Standouts Jacob Bethell didn't strengthen his case for selection in the Test side, making just two runs, but Will Jacks enhanced his claim to be selected during the series by swiping eighty-four. McKinney, Cox, teenage Thomas Rew and Potts also made fifties. Low-key Atmosphere England's plan to play a single practice match against the development squad has been questioned by some former players but Stokes hit back by calling the doubters "former players". A relaxed opening day in front of a small crowd of fans at Lilac Hill was definitely a different experience from what England will face at a sold-out main stadium next week. Stokes Excellent Return Stokes was excellent in the series against the Indian team in the home summer, only to push himself to breaking point. He was absent from the last match with a torn shoulder. The skipper has not managed a full part in any of the team's past four series because of various injuries and the tourists' hopes of regaining the Ashes are vastly diminished if he is absent from any of the five matches in Australia. He has been bowling at maximum speed for two months and looked in good condition on Wednesday, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his wickets were presented. Will Jacks Strengthens Case Jacks is not expected to play in the opening match – England look to have revealed their intentions with the XI selected here. Nevertheless, he may have nudged himself in front of the struggling Bethell with his 84, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace. Prior to the doubt over Mark Wood, the five seamers in the England XI for this game may not have been the bowling unit for the first Test. Carse missed the opening day because of illness, with his place going to Josh Tongue. Tongue had opening batsman McKinney edging to the keeper just after the break. Although the captain took the wickets, Jofra Archer caught the eye. He was energetic with the fresh ball and again after the interval, when he caused problems for Jacks. In the omission of Shoaib Bashir and with Wood leaving the field, Joe Root was required to deliver fourteen overs of his off-spin. It was average performance, costing 117 at an economy of more than eight. Joe Root at least took a scalp in the final session when Matt Fisher unexpectedly hit a full toss to mid-on before Archer dismissed with a bouncer Matthew Potts for 53 with the final ball of the day.