Fast bowling hero Mark Wood became England’s batting hero as they Bazballed their way to a heart-stopping victory in the third Test at Headingley, keeping the series alive and robbing the chance for Australia to claim their first series victory in England for 22 years.
Set 251 for victory, England won by three wickets midway through the fourth day, leaving the series at 2-1 with two Tests to play.
Mark Wood and Chris Woakes leave the field after guiding England to victory.Credit: Getty Images
Still needing 21 for victory when he can to the crease, Wood smote a six over fine leg and a four through the covers on the way to an unbeaten 16 from just eight balls. Wood was player of the match for his first innings 5-34 and the difference between the teams after missing the first two Tests recovering from injury.
The experienced Chris Woakes stayed steady to the end, smashing a boundary past point off Mitchell Starc to finish unbeaten on 32 and seal a triumphant return to Test cricket after more than a year out of the team. It followed a strong bowling performance from the allrounder.
It was one of England’s Bazball generation, Harry Brook, 24, who set up the tense finish. Playing just his 10th Test, Brook scored 75 before skying a short ball from Starc towards mid-off. There was a collision of fast-bowling giants as Starc and captain Pat Cummins ran in opposite directions to take the catch. There could have been a gruesome outcome, but Cummins held firm to take the catch and slapped Starc on the back with glee.
Australia lost the match with their batting. Twin failures by David Warner, again against Stuart Broad, and soft second innings dismissals by Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith failed to build a match-winning lead.
Jonny Bairstow had already gone, with his batting failing to compensate for his keeping after missing eight chances in the series. Following a bright, run-a-ball 78 in the first Test his series average has fallen below 24. He was out for just five on Sunday, slashing a wide ball from Mitchell Starc into his stumps.
The most pivotal moment on Sunday was when England captain Ben Stokes was caught down the leg side off Starc shortly after lunch. As long as Stokes was there England looked in control. It was impossible to believe anything else given his mighty deeds against Australia in England.
There was the astonishing, unbeaten 135 Stokes scored which snatched England a remarkable victory at Headingley during the previous Ashes tour four years ago, the blazing 155 at Lord’s a week earlier which almost did the game thing, and the 80 he scored in the first innings of this Test a few days ago which kept England in the match.
Mark Wood bats for England at the death.Credit: Reuters
Every time England appeared as though they were gaining control, they lost a wicket. First it was Ben Duckett (23) going too far across to Starc. He was leg before wicket then optimistically reviewed.
In typical Bazball fashion, England moved spinning allrounder Moeen Ali from number eight to the pivotal number three spot. It could have been construed as attacking or defensive given the way Moeen bats or the fact that usual number three Ollie Pope is out of the series with injury and Brook had been named at three. The experiment didn’t last long, with Starc bowling Moeen for five.
Zak Crawley (44) gave away another impressive start, caught behind off a wild drive from Mitch Marsh, Joe Root (21) fell to Cummins for the third consecutive time, this time gloving a hook, and then Stokes went, opening the game up for Australia before England closed it again.
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