Practice game, Perth venue (day one of 3)
Development squad 382: Will Jacks 84, Ben McKinney 67; Ben Stokes 6-52
England XI: still to bat
The England captain delivered six wickets in his first action since July but the tourists faced an fitness worry about fast bowler Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up against the development squad in Western Australia.
Captain's Impressive Comeback
Stokes, making his comeback after nearly four months out with a shoulder problem, bowled sixteen overs across three spells for his six for fifty-two versus the Lions – all to catches on the on-side.
Mark Wood's Injury Worry
Pace bowler Wood, himself returning after 9 months out with a knee problem, delivered a scheduled amount 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.
Wood's injury drained the energy out of the day, as the England Lions were dismissed for 382 on a sluggish pitch after an uncontested toss at Lilac Hill.
Team Strategy
The tourists wanted to bowl first to build bowling fitness before the first Ashes Test at Optus Stadium, beginning on 21 November.
In a possible hint towards their opening Test strategy, the visiting team selected an fast bowling lineup – four specialist bowlers plus Stokes – and omitted off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in the Lions.
Batting Performance Standouts
Bethell didn't strengthen his claim for inclusion in the Test side, making just two runs, but Jacks boosted his credentials to be selected during the series by scoring 84.
Ben McKinney, Cox, 17-year-old Thomas Rew and Matthew Potts also scored fifties.
Low-key Atmosphere
The team's plan to play a single practice match against the development squad has been questioned by some ex-players but the captain hit back by calling the doubters "has-beens".
A relaxed opening day in front of a smattering of fans at the ground was definitely a different experience from what England will face at a packed main stadium the following week.
Stokes Excellent Performance
The captain was superb in the contest against the Indian team 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 complete participation in any of England's previous four series because of different fitness issues and the team's chances of regaining the Ashes are vastly diminished if he misses any of the five Tests in Australia.
He has been practicing at full pace for two months and looked in fine shape on the match day, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his dismissals were presented.
Will Jacks Strengthens Case
Jacks is unlikely to play in the first Test – the team look to have shown their intentions with the eleven named here. Nevertheless, 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 seamers in the England XI for this game may not have been the bowling unit for the first Test.
Carse missed the first day because of sickness, with his place going to Tongue. Tongue had opening batsman Ben McKinney caught behind just after lunch.
Although the captain took the wickets, Archer impressed observers. He was lively with the new ball and once more after the interval, when he caused problems for Will Jacks.
In the omission of Bashir and with Wood departing, Joe Root was required to bowl 14 overs of his spin bowling. It was average performance, conceding 117 at an economy of more than eight.
Root at least claimed a wicket in the final session when Fisher somehow struck a full toss to the fielder before Archer bounced out Matthew Potts for 53 with the final ball of the day.
