Sensible Pat Cummins leaves England reeling at Headingley
E
ngland have been counting on yet one more Ben Stokes rescue act after Australia’s bowlers made hay on the second morning of the Third Test at Headingley.
The residence aspect had resumed on 68 for 3, with Yorkshire pair Jonny Bairstow and Joe Root on the crease and seeking to make amends for pricey drops within the area on the opening day.
Instead, each have been dismissed contained in the opening half-hour, earlier than Moeen Ali and Chris Woakes adopted earlier than lunch as England have been diminished to 142 for seven in reply to Australia’s 263, with Stokes unbeaten on 27 and left batting with the tail as soon as extra.
Root succumbed to simply the second ball of the morning, edging Pat Cummins to David Warner at slip with out including to his in a single day rating of 19, earlier than Bairstow was snaffled by Steve Smith after slashing in ugly style at a large supply from Mitchell Starc.
Bairstow had dropped Travis Head on 9 on day one, whereas Root put down Mitchell Marsh on 12 earlier than that pair went on to share a fifth-wicket partnership of 155 to maintain a Test England should win to have any likelihood of regaining the Urn firmly within the steadiness.
While England proceed to be wasteful within the area, Australia have been excellent, all the prime 5 falling to sharp catches both behind the stumps or within the cordon.
England opted in opposition to a like-for-like substitute for injured batter Ollie Pope, leaving all-rounders Stokes and Moeen Ali to begin the rebuild from No6 and No7. Stokes survived an lbw overview off Scott Boland by the pores and skin of his tooth after which required common remedy from England’s physios, however the pair appeared to have steadied the ship in a partnership of 44.
Just as calm appeared to have been restored, nonetheless, the spinner picked up England’s Lord’s penchant for mind-boggling dismissals to the short-ball, getting away with a skied top-edge solely to be pouched enjoying the very same pull shot two balls earlier, Cummins claiming his fourth wicket of the innings.
Australia focused Woakes with the short-ball and the seamer was struck on the top however responded in good style, nailing Cummins over midwicket for six, solely to feather behind off Starc to what proved the ultimate ball earlier than lunch.
Meanwhile, medical workers are persevering with to work on Ollie Robinson within the hope of getting the bowler again into the motion later within the Test.
Robinson was compelled off in the midst of his twelfth over on day one, having pulled up with a again spasm, and didn’t return to the sphere.
While Robinson is predicted to bat, it isn’t but clear whether or not he’ll be capable of bowl throughout Australia’s second innings.
The 29-year-old, who has 10 wickets throughout the primary two Tests, got here into the collection as a minor damage doubt, having missed the only warm-up match in opposition to Ireland as a precaution after selecting up an ankle drawback on County obligation with Sussex, however the newest drawback is alleged to be unrelated.
The fast’s debut Ashes collection Down Under 18 months in the past was marred by damage issues, together with a again spasm throughout the remaining Test at Hobart that left England a bowler brief. Then-bowling coach Jon Lewis instructed the media that England workers had had “pretty frank” conversations with the seamer over his health and Robinson has since labored laborious to grow to be a extra sturdy cricketer, enjoying a key function all through a lot of the Bazball period up to now.
England’s rejigged lineup is not less than higher outfitted to cope with any potential absence throughout this match, with an additional bowler introduced into the aspect, partly a response to issues over Stokes’s health to bowl.