🔗 Share this article Stokes Claims Six Scalps in England Ashes Warm-up Tour match, Perth venue (day one of three) Development squad 382: Jacks 84, McKinney 67; Ben Stokes 6-52 England XI: awaiting batting The England captain delivered six wickets in his first action after July but England faced an fitness worry involving Mark Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up against the development squad in Perth. Skipper's Impressive Return The England captain, making his comeback after almost four months away with a shoulder problem, bowled 16 overs across three bowling spells for his six for fifty-two versus the Lions – all to catches on the on-side. Wood's Fitness Worry Pace bowler Mark Wood, also making his comeback after nine months out with a knee problem, bowled a pre-planned number of eight overs before leaving the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring problem. He will undergo scanning on the following day. Wood's injury drained the energy out of the day, as the England Lions were dismissed for three hundred eighty-two on a sluggish pitch after an automatic toss at the venue. Squad Strategy England aimed to field first to build bowling fitness before the first Ashes Test at the main venue, beginning on 21 November. In a possible hint towards their opening Test strategy, the tourists selected an all-pace attack – four specialist bowlers plus the captain – and left off-spinner Bashir in the development squad. Batting Standouts Bethell didn't strengthen his case for inclusion in the Test team, making only two, but Jacks boosted his credentials to be called upon later in the tour by scoring 84. McKinney, Jordan Cox, teenage Thomas Rew and Matthew Potts also scored fifties. Relaxed Atmosphere The team's plan to play a single warm-up game against the development squad has been criticized by some ex-players but Stokes hit back by calling the doubters "has-beens". A relaxed first day in front of a smattering of fans at the ground was definitely a world away from what England will face at a packed main stadium next week. Captain's Supreme Performance 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 final Test with a shoulder tear. The skipper has not managed a complete participation in any of the team's previous four series because of different fitness issues and the team's hopes of regaining the Ashes are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five Tests in the host country. He has been practicing at maximum speed for two months and appeared in good condition on Wednesday, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his dismissals were gifted. Will Jacks Pushes Claim Will Jacks is not expected to feature in the opening match – the team look to have shown their intentions with the eleven selected here. Nevertheless, he may have nudged himself ahead of the struggling Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at almost a run a ball. Prior to the doubt over Wood, the five seamers in the England XI for this match may not have been the bowling unit for the initial match. Brydon Carse missed the opening day because of sickness, with his position going to Josh Tongue. Josh Tongue had Lions opener Ben McKinney caught behind just after the break. Although the captain took the scalps, Archer impressed observers. He was energetic with the new ball and once more after lunch, when he caused problems for Will Jacks. In the omission of Shoaib Bashir and with Wood leaving the field, Joe Root was asked to deliver fourteen overs of his spin bowling. It was average performance, conceding 117 runs at an run rate of over eight. Root at least took a wicket in the closing stages when Matt Fisher somehow hit a full toss to the fielder before Archer dismissed with a bouncer Matthew Potts for 53 with the final ball of the day.