England’s Ashes hopes were kept alive on Sunday with a tense win over Australia in the third Test at Headingley. Chasing down a target of 251, England denied Australia and an on-song Mitchell Starc to secure a victory. Harry Brook played a heroic innings for England, scoring 75 runs, while Chris Woakes and Mark Wood provided crucial contributions to seal the match in the middle of day four.
With the series scoreline now at 2-1 in Australia’s favor, England still has a fighting chance to reclaim the Ashes with two Tests remaining at Old Trafford and The Oval on July 19 and 27, respectively. Despite this victory, Australia’s fast bowler Pat Cummins remains confident that his team is still in control and denies that England has gained any momentum going into the next match in Manchester.
The third Test was an enthralling encounter, with Mitchell Starc posing a significant threat to England’s chances of victory. Starc claimed five wickets for 78 runs and came close to bowling Australia to their first series win in England since 2001. Cummins praised Starc, describing him as a complete bowler who has exceptional control over his skills and pace.
Starc made early breakthroughs by removing Ben Duckett and Moeen Ali at the start of the day. He breathed life back into the contest after lunch by dismissing England’s key player Ben Stokes and then Jonny Bairstow. As England looked poised for victory with 90 runs needed and six wickets in hand, Starc tightened his grip on the game.
However, as has been the theme of this series, England found a way to respond in the face of adversity. Just when Australia seemed to be making a comeback, Starc struck again, dismissing Harry Brook, who had been composed throughout the day. Cummins took a stunning catch despite colliding with Starc, giving Australia hope. But it was short-lived, as the hosts managed to win the critical moments for the first time this summer.
Mark Wood hit a crucial six to reduce the margin to 12, but he offered a chance when he top-edged the ball towards fly slip. Australia’s fielder, Alex Carey, failed to take the catch, and England secured the victory. Chris Woakes, playing his first Test in almost 16 months, hit the winning four on the last ball of the 50th over to finish unbeaten on 32.
England’s all-rounder Ben Stokes emphasized the importance of winning another tight game and how it can positively impact the team’s confidence. He acknowledged the team’s joy at the victory but emphasized that it is just the beginning of the work they need to do to regain the Ashes.
For Australia, there is now a 10-day wait before they can attempt to claim a series victory in England. The team will be eager to bounce back and break their drought of winning a series in England. The upcoming Tests at Old Trafford and The Oval will be crucial in determining the outcome of this closely contested Ashes series.
Overall, England’s thrilling win has injected new life into the Ashes, keeping fans on the edge of their seats. As the series progresses, both teams will be determined to seize the momentum and secure the ultimate prize in Test cricket.
