Chris Woakes and Travis Head star to depart England needing 251 to maintain Ashes alive
England 237 and 27 for 0 want 224 extra runs to beat Australia 263 and 224 (Head 77, Khawaja 43, Broad 3-45, Woakes 3-68)
It took six hours to get there amid the rain, however the third day at Headingley produced an electrifying remaining session the place either side traded blows of their makes an attempt to arrange victory. England struck early by Chris Woakes, however Travis Head counterattacked with the ultimate two wickets for firm to depart a goal of 251.
Faced with 25 minutes to see out the day, with the solar bursting by, Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett slashed 27 off the goal whereas Australia additionally burned a assessment for a leg-side catch towards Duckett. Last season England chased 296 towards New Zealand and, after all, there wants little reminding of 2019 in order that they definitely will not be overwhelmed by the pursuit. From the place they have been at lunch on the second day, 142 for 7 and trailing by 121, England would have gladly accepted this place.
After common showers in the course of the day, performed finally started at 4.45pm however just one over was attainable initially earlier than one other transient stoppage. An extra three overs have been trimmed from the allocation, however what remained produced an additional passage of gripping cricket in a sequence that has been compelling from the beginning.
It felt as if Woakes had made decisive blows when he claimed Mitchell Marsh and Alex Carey and when Pat Cummins fell to Mark Wood, Australia have been 170 for 8, a lead of 196. Head was then in a position so as to add 54 in seven overs for the final two partnerships with what might show one of the crucial essential innings of Test profession, wherein he has already produced a sequence of match-changing and match-defining scores, albeit often within the first innings to arrange a recreation.
Woakes was great when play resumed for the second time, discovering the surface fringe of Marsh, after he had once more regarded in glorious contact, when he tried to withdraw the bat. He quickly added Carey, who had earlier been a part of one of many weirder tales of the sequence involving false allegations of a non-paid haircut, as he additionally tried to depart the ball and performed into his stumps.
While Wood’s return to the facet has introduced lots of the headlines given the blistering tempo, Woakes’ comeback has been equally impactful. His listing of wickets on this match reads: Marnus Labuschagne, Usman Khawaja, Head, Marsh (twice) and Carey.
Mitchell Starc briefly performed confidently earlier than falling to Wood’s brief ball, the top-edge spiralling backward of sq. the place there was almost a horrendous mix-up with Jonny Bairstow seemingly bailing out of the catch, leaving it to Harry Brook who sprinted from brief leg and pulled out a full-length dive.
As he did within the first innings, Wood gave Cummins a short and really efficient working over and Head – who was 34 off 82 balls on the time – knew it was then time to alter gear, though Murphy had cover-driven his first ball from Wood to the boundary.
In the subsequent over, from Woakes, Head pulled and carved two boundaries then towards Wood collected one other brace which took him to fifty off 94 balls. England continued with the brief ball to Head, typically with 9 males on the boundary, and it didn’t at all times look probably the most wise strategy, though when Woakes went to size he additionally received despatched over midwicket for six.
Murphy was labored by a cultured over from Broad when he returned from the Football Stand End, however there was time for Head to do some extra harm. He pulled Wood for consecutive sixes over the leg facet earlier than falling making an attempt one thing comparable off Broad which discovered deep midwicket.
Given their current historical past, a chase of 251 is nicely inside England’s attain however, with the Ashes on the road, absolutely there’s a twist or two to return but.
Andrew McGlashan is a deputy editor at ESPNcricinfo