🔗 Share this article Stokes Secures 6 Wickets in English Test Series Preparation Match Practice match, Lilac Hill (day one of three) England Lions 382: Will Jacks 84, Ben McKinney 67; Ben Stokes 6-52 National team: yet to bat Ben Stokes delivered 6 scalps in his first action since July but England faced an fitness worry regarding Mark Wood on the first day of their Test preparation versus the development squad in Perth. Skipper's Outstanding Comeback Stokes, making his comeback after approximately four months out with a shoulder problem, bowled sixteen 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, himself returning after nine months out with a knee problem, delivered a pre-planned number of eight overs before departing 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 energy out of the day, as the England Lions were bowled out for three hundred eighty-two on a slow track after an automatic toss at Lilac Hill. Team Planning The tourists wanted to bowl first to build bowling fitness before the initial Test match at the main venue, beginning on 21 November. In a possible hint towards their first-Test plans, the tourists selected an all-pace attack – four specialists plus Stokes – and omitted off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in the Lions. Batting Performance Standouts Jacob Bethell didn't strengthen his claim for inclusion in the Test team, making just two runs, but Will Jacks enhanced his claim to be selected during the series by hitting eighty-four. Ben McKinney, Cox, 17-year-old Thomas Rew and Potts also made fifties. Relaxed Atmosphere England's plan to play a solitary practice match against the development squad has been questioned by some ex-players but Stokes responded by labeling the doubters "former players". A relaxed opening day in front of a smattering of spectators at Lilac Hill was definitely a world away from what England will encounter at a packed main stadium next week. Stokes Supreme Return The captain was superb in the contest against the Indian team in the home summer, only to strain himself to breaking point. He was absent from the last match with a shoulder tear. The captain has not managed a full part in any of England's past four series because of various injuries and the tourists' hopes of winning back the Ashes are vastly diminished if he misses any of the five Tests in the host country. He has been bowling at maximum speed for two months and looked in fine shape on Wednesday, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his dismissals were gifted. Will Jacks Pushes Case Jacks is unlikely to feature in the first Test – the team look to have shown their intentions with the eleven named here. Nevertheless, he may have moved himself ahead of the out-of-sorts Jacob Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at almost a run a ball. Even before the concern over Wood, the five seamers in the England XI for this game may not have been the attack for the first Test. Brydon Carse was absent from the first day because of illness, with his position going to Tongue. Josh Tongue had Lions opener McKinney caught behind just after the break. Although Stokes took the scalps, Archer impressed observers. He was energetic with the new ball and again after lunch, when he discomforted Will Jacks. In the absence of Bashir and with Wood departing, Root was asked to bowl fourteen overs of his spin bowling. It was mediocre fare, conceding 117 runs at an economy of over eight. Joe Root at least took a scalp in the closing stages when Fisher unexpectedly struck a full delivery to the fielder before Jofra Archer bounced out Matthew Potts for fifty-three with the final ball of the day.