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England have defied a brilliant burst from Mitchell Starc to secure a three-wicket victory in the must-win third Ashes Test to keeping the series alive.
The Headingley crowd rose as one when Chris Woakes drove the winning runs off Starc to the cover boundary, the all-rounder capping off a memorable Test return with a nerveless unbeaten 32 after the top order had slumped to 6/171 with 90 still to get.
It was a 59-run stand between Harry Brook (75) and Woakes that would rescue the innings and bring England to the cusp of victory, while a spectacular late cameo from fellow recalled quick Mark Wood (16 off 8 balls) would complete a match-winning display with both ball and bat.
Australia will be left to rue their collapse of 6/23 on the first evening of the match, triggered by player of the match Wood, as well as the pair of cheap wickets Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith granted Moeen Ali in the second innings with reckless strokes; ultimately, though, this was a third consecutive Test between the two evenly matched foes that went right down to the wire.
Pat Cummins denied England now have the series momentum.
“No it’s not really shifted,” Cummins said. “It’s 2-1. Every Test you start from fresh.”
Five wickets from Starc threatened to take Australia to victory single-handedly, especially when he removed England captain Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow in quick succession shortly after lunch, but his removal from the bowling attack for 10 precious overs following the latter wicket allowed Brook and Woakes to set themselves.
By the time the left-armer returned, it was too late, and while he’d finish Brook’s heroic rearguard, some more nerveless hitting from Wood and the calmness of Woakes sealed a famous England win.
The teams head to Old Trafford for the fourth Test with Australia still needing just one win or draw to retain the Ashes; but England, having won three Tests on the trot twice under Brendon McCullum before, have plenty of belief.
Chris Woakes celebrates with Mark Wood after hitting the winning runs. (Photo by Ashley Allen/Getty Images)
Cummins admitted there were a ‘few key moments’ Australia hadn’t got right for the match, after controlling proceedings at the clutch at Edgbaston and Lord’s.
“It seems like a series where each sessions swings in one team’s favour and then the other,” said.
“I thought getting up to 250 gave us something but it wasn’t quite enough.
“Starcy was fantastic. He’s just becoming more and more complete of a bowler every time he plays out here. As a captain, it’s a luxury to have a left-armer who’s in that control of his skill and pace.”
England captain Ben Stokes had nothing but praise for ‘Mr Consistent’ Woakes’ return having not played a Test since March 2022, while also giving full credit to the ‘free spirit’ of Wood with ball and bat.
“He’s a quality performer. He’s Mr Consistent,” Stokes said after the match.
“Having someone who can bat like the can at number 8 is a massive help, and when the ball’s doing a bit in the air or off the pitch he’s massively in the game.
“When you’ve got someone who can come in and bowl 95mph, it’s a massive help,” he added of Wood.
“It impacts the game: whether he’s taking wickets at one end, or they come at the other. It’s great to see him smiling, running in and bowling rockets.
“And with the bat, he’s a free spirit, and very clear in his mind. He walked out knowing he wanted to take the game on. It doesn’t always come off but it gives you a better chance.”
A beaming Wood admitted after receiving the player of the match award: “I was not good in that dressing room. The lads will tell you, sweaty palms all the way.
“To go up against some of the best fast bowlers in the world… it’s the first time I’ve got England over the line with the bat so I’m delighted.
“Stokesy was very clear about my role [with the ball] – bowl short, sharp spells and give it everything I’ve got.
“The support everywhere we go is amazing, but it’s always better in the north, isn’t it?”
As the hosts resumed on 0/27, Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett’s first mission was to take the early sting out of Australia’s attack.
With Cummins starting with two fielders in the deep, early singles allowed both the pair to build on their sturdy partnership the previous evening, but Starc struck in the day’s fifth over.
Pinning Duckett on the crease as the opener shuffled substantially across his crease, the Australian shout for LBW was rewarded by umpire Kumar Dharmasena, with the Englishman’s review only proving he hadn’t realised just how far across he’d ended up.
The first surprise of the day came with the elevation of Moeen Ali to first drop, with Brook, who had struggled mightily against the new ball in the first innings, back to his regular spot at five.
The all-rounder’s promotion, though, would be short lived before Starc found an inside edge to send Moeen’s leg stump flying for 5, the left-armer’s second wicket of the day keeping honours even.
Joe Root always loomed as one of England’s two most dangerous adversaries in the chase, and a glorious cover-driven four off just his fifth ball confirmed that.
Crawley, though, was the more pressing concern, the opener riding his luck with several outside edges falling short of or helped over the slips cordon.
Mitchell Marsh’s return to the bowling crease brought more of the same as Crawley drove fluently for another four; but having made his way to 44 and well set for a match-winning turn, that was where his stay would end.
A touch of movement off the seam would do for the established batter, another booming Crawley drive only finding another edge through to Carey, the all-rounder’s Midas touch coming at a badly needed time for Australia.
With Brook at the crease two wickets later than expected, the rising star partnered with Root to steer England towards the safety of lunch.
Soon outpacing the senior man with three punching boundaries as Boland routinely overpitched, Brook would soon pass Root’s tally as the deficit shrank below 150; though the latter reminded Australia his was still the prized wicket with a sublime cover drive to send Cummins to the fence.
Having removed the England star in his last two innings, though, Cummins would make it three from three soon after; straying down leg side, Root made a mess of his pull to strangle down leg side to Carey for 21.
With Stokes replacing him at the crease and in red-hot form, with scores of 155 and 80 in his last two outings, England remained on track even at 4/131 – and reaching lunch with 22 more added and Brook looking ominous on 40, it was the hosts with the advantage at lunch with the chase into double figures.
Starc, though, had other ideas: in his first over after the break, an innocuous ball down the leg side saw Stokes meet the same fate as Root, meeting the ball only enough to tickle a faint edge to Carey for 13.
With 90 still to get and half the side out, Australia believed: doubly so when Bairstow concluded another nightmare Test by dragging Starc on for just five.
Four wickets now to his name, the left-armer was coming up trumps at the perfect time; but he’d manage just one more over before the end of his spell, and Brook and Woakes capitalised.
With Boland now straying too straight and again failing to extract any movement off the wicket, Woakes clipped off his pads for a boundary before getting just enough on a flick past Carey for four to the fine rope.
As they had all morning, edges continued to elude Australia; outside edges fell short of the slip, the bowlers regularly catching the splice of the bat only to see it fall safely in between converging fielders, and all the while seeing the runs slowly come down.
Bringing up 50 with a pull off Cummins – a score every bit as meritorious as the hundreds he compiled in Pakistan to establish his spot in the team – Brook now looked destined to see England home, seeing England’s total beyond 200 and the runs required down under 50.
With 80 required when the pair were joined, Brook and Woakes shaved half off that and hardly looked troubled; when drinks arrived, there were 37 to get, the former on 64 and the latter 21.
That became 30 when they took seven off the first over after the break, Brook cutting Cummins for four to bring up a priceless half-century stand and reach 70 himself.
Hail Mary territory arrived when Todd Murphy was introduced to the attack, his one previous over for the day going for seven just before lunch: with two right-handers at the crease, it felt an enormous challenge for the young spinner.
Beginning with a no-ball to only add to the undoubted nerves, Brook only added to them by crashing another four through the covers.
With 24 needed, Cummins at last turned to Starc again for just his second over at the set pair – and it would pay immediate dividends.
Off just his fourth ball, Brook’s brilliant knock ended as he tried to hook, only to top-edge straight up: Cummins and Starc then nearly making a mess of the simplest of catches as they both went for the ball, the former just clinging on.
Starc’s fifth wicket renewing hope for Australia, with 21 to win and the England tail officially in.
However, Cummins would again err: once again continuing to bombard the tail as they had done in the first innings, Wood’s plan hadn’t changed.
Stepping back and swinging across the line, his heave got enough on the ball to sail it over fine leg for a six to leave Headingley in raptures.
Full, though, wouldn’t do the trick either, Starc going for the stumps and met with a ferocious cover drive into the deep for another four.
The last hope arrived when Wood again looked to larrup a bouncer, only to top-edge; back flew Carey, desperately trying to make his ground… and coming within centimetres of a desperate dive, Boland at fine third man having barely moved for what was clearly his catch.
Two more singles left Australian victory impossible; with one to win, it would be Woakes with the honours, heaving Starc off the stumps in front of cover for the winning boundary, the sweetest he’ll ever hit.
All roads lead to Manchester with the series alive; and as well as Australia have played to date, it will be a nervous team that takes the field in Old Trafford for one of the most keenly anticipated Ashes Tests in recent memory.
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