🔗 Share this article Ben Stokes Takes Six Wickets in English Ashes Warm-up Practice match, Perth venue (first day of three) England Lions 382: Will Jacks 84, Ben McKinney 67; Stokes 6-52 England XI: yet to bat Ben Stokes delivered 6 scalps in his return to play following July but the tourists faced an fitness worry regarding fast bowler Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up versus England Lions in Western Australia. Skipper's Impressive Comeback Stokes, making his comeback after approximately four months away with a shoulder problem, bowled sixteen overs across three bowling spells for his 6-52 versus England Lions – all to catches taken on the on-side. Wood's Fitness Worry Pace bowler Wood, himself returning after nine months out with a knee injury, bowled a pre-planned number of 8 overs before leaving the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring issue. He will receive scanning on the following day. The Wood situation drained the intensity out of the day, as the Lions were bowled out for three hundred eighty-two on a slow track after an uncontested toss at the venue. Team Planning England wanted to bowl first to accumulate bowling time before the initial Test match at Optus Stadium, beginning on November 21st. In a possible hint towards their opening Test strategy, the visiting team selected an fast bowling lineup – four specialist bowlers plus the captain – and left spin bowler Bashir in the Lions. Batting Performance Highlights Jacob Bethell didn't strengthen his claim for selection in the Test side, making just two runs, but Will Jacks boosted his claim to be called upon later in the tour by scoring 84. Ben McKinney, Cox, 17-year-old Rew and Potts also scored half-centuries. Relaxed Environment England's plan to play a single practice match against the Lions has been questioned by some ex-players but the captain responded by labeling the doubters "past players". A low-pressure opening day in front of a small crowd of fans at the ground was definitely a different experience from what England will encounter at a sold-out Optus Stadium next week. Stokes Excellent Performance Stokes was excellent in the contest against India in the domestic season, only to strain himself to injury. He missed the final Test with a shoulder tear. The skipper has not completed a complete participation in any of the team's previous four series because of different fitness issues and the team's chances of winning back the series are significantly reduced if he is absent from any of the five matches in the host country. He has been practicing at full pace for 60 days and looked in good condition on Wednesday, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his dismissals were presented. Jacks Strengthens Claim Will Jacks is not expected to play in the opening match – England look to have revealed their hand with the XI named here. Still, he may have moved himself in front of the out-of-sorts Jacob Bethell with his 84, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace. Even before the doubt over Mark Wood, the five fast bowlers in the team lineup for this game may not have been the bowling unit for the initial match. Carse missed the opening day because of sickness, with his position going to Josh Tongue. Josh Tongue had Lions opener Ben McKinney edging to the keeper 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 discomforted Jacks. In the absence of Bashir and with Wood departing, Joe Root was asked to deliver fourteen overs of his off-spin. It was mediocre fare, costing 117 at an economy of over eight. Joe Root at least claimed a wicket in the final session when Matt Fisher somehow hit a full toss to mid-on before Jofra Archer bounced out Matthew Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.