Ashes 2023: England defeat Australia in another Headingley thriller to take third Test
England has done it again - stealing a famous Headingley victory from Australia to ensure that the Ashes are alive and well. And they have a new hero to thank for the nerve-wracking win.
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England has eked out a three-wicket victory at Headingley to keep the Ashes alive.
Despite a lionhearted showing from Mitchell Starc, the hosts ensured Australia will have to wait for at least another Test to secure a first away Ashes series win in 22 years, with the Aussies taking a 2-1 lead into the fourth rubber at Old Trafford beginning on July 19.
Back in his familiar No. 5 spot, Harry Brook was England’s saviour, with his fearless 75 proving the bedrock of the hosts’ otherwise nervous chase of 251.
Brook received significant support from No. 8 Chris Woakes, whose 32 not out - including the winning runs - capped a stellar performance given 80 runs were still needed when the sixth wicket fell.
England looked headed for victory with just 21 runs needed and four wickets in hand, before Brook top-edged a Starc short-ball. It was almost calamitous for Australia as Starc and Pat Cummins converged but Cummins hung on to secure Starc his fifth wicket.
However Woakes and Mark Wood - another of England’s stars with the ball - ushered their side home.
Defending more than 100 runs fewer than they had been playing with in the heartbreaking one-wicket loss at this venue four years ago, Australia plugged away to prolong the drama and almost pinch another classic less than three weeks after pulling off a heist at Edgbaston.
The Aussies clearly missed Nathan Lyon, with his replacement spinner Todd Murphy barely bowled in the fourth innings and overstepping when finally called into action during the second session.
Having been omitted for the series opener after playing just one Test in the 2019 Ashes series, Starc was mighty, silencing those who suggested he didn’t have the smarts to prove effective in English conditions.
The left-armer used the wobble seam to great effect, removing Ben Duckett for 23 after the hosts had advanced from their overnight position of 0-27 to reach 42 without loss.
Without its primary No. 3 in Ollie Pope, England shuffled the ever-versatile Moeen Ali to first drop to protect Brook. Veteran Moeen entered the match averaging less than 15 at No. 3 in Test cricket, and that figure only dropped after Starc sent the all-rounder’s middle stump flying for five.
The flaky Zak Crawley had played sensibly across the first hour and had been unlucky not to be rewarded for several nice drives hit straight to fielders. The athleticism of Marnus Labuschagne in particular stopped crucial runs.
But the opener was caught behind for 44 after loosely flashing at one from Mitch Marsh, who continued his dream return to the Test arena with his second wicket for the match to go with a century on day one.
Brook looked to make quick inroads, driving Scott Boland for consecutive fours in the 25th over, before punishing Starc the following over.
Pat Cummins continued to torment Joe Root (21), removing the former England captain for the 11th time in Test cricket courtesy of a glove down the leg side.
Despite the intermittent breakthroughs, England had drawn within 100 at lunch, still with six wickets in hand.
Ben Stokes inevitably loomed large, but he felled in the over immediately by a ball to the groin from Boland.
If Boland knocked Stokes over literally, Starc got him in the more definitive sense, drawing an edge down leg side to remove the England captain on 13 to ensure there would be no repeat of 2019’s heroics and plunge Headingley into silence.
Jonny Bairstow, a central figure seven days earlier at Lord’s, survived an inside edge from Boland the following over, before becoming Starc’s fourth victim minutes later by miscuing a drive onto his wicket. By this point, it was no better than a 50-50 game for the home side.
Woakes lived dangerously early, popping up a Cummins short ball that landed safely behind the cordon.
While heavy overnight rain slowed the outfield, the sun was blazing by noon in Leeds. It means England benefitted from considerably better batting conditions than those Australia confronted in the elongated late session on day three.
RE-LIVE THE WILD FINAL DAY WITH JOE BARTON BELOW
12.38AM: ENGLAND WIN BY THREE WICKETS
The Ashes are alive.
England have held their nerve to record a famous three-wicket victory to land their first blow in the series, and ensure that the Ashes go to Manchester next week at 2-1 in Australia’s favour.
Chris Woakes hits the winning runs with a crunching cover drive to complete a magnificent all-round return to Test cricket.
In a frantic over from Mitchell Starc, Mark Wood creamed a cover drive for four, was nearly brilliantly caught by Alex Carey – but ultimately stole the match from Australia.
12.30AM: WOOD BECOMES ENGLAND’S UNLIKELY HERO
Absolutely bonkers stuff from Mark Wood!
Brilliant work on the boundary by Todd Murphy saves three runs off Chris Woakes and puts Wood on strike, and he responds with an almighty six off Pat Cummins.
Leaning into a pull shot, Wood top edges the stroke but swings with such ferocity that it goes a dozen rows back.
England need just 11 runs now.
12.21AM: WICKET! STARC GETS BROOK AND A FIFTH
ANOTHER TWIST?
Mitchell Starc returns to devastating effect, removing England’s dangerous Harry Brook with a short ball.
Brook attempts a pull shot but it goes straight to Pat Cummins and mid-off and there is a moment of horror for the Australians as Starc and Cummins nearly collide while both attempting to take the grab.
But Cummins manages to hold his nerve as Starc runs into him, leaving Australia three wickets shy of victory – and England 21 runs from home.
In comes Mark Wood.
12.18AM: MURPHY OVER GOES FOR SIX, STARC RETURNS
That Pat Cummins gamble has not paid off – he brings Todd Murphy back with England needing just 30 runs, and Harry Brook immediately capitalises.
Six runs come from it, including a crisp Brook cut shot slammed through the vacant point region.
And with just 24 runs to defend, Cummins plays his final card: one last burst from Mitchell Starc.
12.14AM: BROOK IS ENGLAND’S NEW HERO
Harry Brook is steering England to a famous victory with a sensational innings here.
England need 30 runs to win after Brook creams a wide delivery from Pat Cummins through point for four.
That brings up the 50 partnership of 62 balls – a remarkable fightback from England after the loss of Stokes and Bairstow.
It’s all looking very grim for Pat Cummins and his team, who now need a miracle (another one, after so many already this series) as this Test slips away.
And it’s Brook who is getting ready to write himself into Ashes history, just like Ben Stokes before him.
Cummins now turns to Todd Murphy. But is it too late?
12.00AM: ENGLAND ON VERGE OF GUTSY WIN
The clock has ticked past midnight on the east coast of Australia, and England have just 40 runs required.
Brook and Woakes have added 40 runs between them in the past eight overs and look to be doing things comfortably, with Pat Cummins running out of ideas for his team.
He’s turned to Mitchell Marsh, in place of Scott Boland, in search of the crucial breakthrough.
But you sense it can’t be long before Mitchell Starc gets one last crack at pulling off a miracle.
11.45PM: ENGLAND CREEP CLOSER TO VICTORY
England have bounced back brilliantly from the twin dismissals of Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow – just in case you thought this Test didn’t have another twist in it – to trim the victory margin to just 52.
Harry Brook has taken on the Ben Stokes role, notching a half-century and becoming the fastest man in history to reach 1000 Test runs.
There is a lot of nervous energy around Headingley as each and every run is cheered.
And the game has turned back against Australia, with edges falling desperately out of reach as England creep closer and closer to the win that would keep their series alive.
11.30PM: SMITH’S PERFECT RESPONSE TO BAIRSTOW BARB
Steve Smith saw his opportunity and took it.
Two days after becoming enraged at being given a send-off – admittedly of the mildest possible variety - by Jonny Bairstow, he returned serve after the latter’s cheap dismissal late on day four.
After Smith threw his wicket away cheaply, Bairstow was heard on stump mic chirping ‘see ya, Smudge’ which sent the Australian into an unexpected rage.
But Smith barely waited 48 hours to get one back when Bairstow chopped on off the bowling of Mitchell Starc.
“See ya, Jonny!” was heard on the stump mic as Bairstow departed, with the voice sounding suspiciously like Smith’s.
10.17PM: WICKET! STARC ON FIRE, ENGLAND HAVE THE WOBBLES
This is extraordinary from Australia – Mitchell Starc has landed an enormous double blow to well and truly rock England’s runchase.
Jonny Bairstow is gone for 5, with England 80 runs shy of victory.
Bairstow rode his luck, with an inside edge off Scott Boland going for four the previous over, but he has no such good fortune against Starc as he chops on while chasing a wide delivery outside off stump.
Australia, somehow, four wickets from victory as Chris Woakes joins Harry Brook at the crease.
11.07PM: WICKET! STOKES IS GONE!
This is THE wicket that Australia wanted – Ben Stokes, the miracle man, is gone for 13.
An over after being hit in the groin, this one will hurt even more as Stokes is strangled down the legside off Mitchell Starc.
It’s an ugly dismissal, and a somewhat muted appeal by the Australians, but the finger goes up and Stokes has no objections.
He’s walking.
England needs 90 to win, Australia need five more wickets. This is going down to the wire as Jonny Bairstow arrives at the crease.
11.05PM: STOKES FLOORED AFTER AUSSIE LOW BLOW
Ben Stokes is in the wars – to go with his dodgy knee and crook back he’s just been levelled by Scott Boland, who has hit the England hero below the belt.
Charging down the wicket to the Victorian, Stokes missed the line of the ball as it jagged back and paid the price, immediately doubling over in pain before he desperately scrambled back into his crease.
“He’s cracking a little bit physically, but it just seems to lift his game,” says Sri Lankan great Kumar Sangakkara.
“And he does something incredible or superhuman.”
10.55PM: THE SESSION THAT COULD DECIDE THE SERIES
The middle session is underway at Headingley – the session that will decide this Test, and perhaps the one that will decide the entire series.
England have the upper hand, with just 98 runs required for victory and with Ben Stokes and Harry Brook at the crease.
Scott Boland will be given the honour of taking the ball in the first over after the break – he’s been below his best today, and possibly Australia’s least threatening bowler throughout the Test.
But he has a chance write another chapter in his incredible late-blooming career. A wicket here would throw a cat amongst the pigeons.
LUNCH: ENGLAND 98 FROM VICTORY AFTER GRIPPING SESSION
England need 98 runs to keep the Ashes alive – after a fascinating first session in which Australia landed blow after blow to give themselves a chance of sealing a famous series win.
Australia took four wickets in the elongated first session, including dangerman Joe Root shortly before the main break when he was caught behind off Pat Cummins.
That wicket brought England’s talismanic Ben Stokes to the crease, ready to steer his country home in another famous runchase.
Even before he arrived, England had scored quickly in making light work of the Australian target of 251.
Zak Crawley fell to Mitchell Marsh just short of a half-century, but led the way as the hosts scored 126 in the opening session.
10.00PM: WICKET! CUMMINS LANDS MASSIVE BLOW ON LUNCH
That is the big one!
Pat Cummins has claimed the wicket of Joe Root once again – for the third time in three innings.
The short ball does the trick, with Root carelessly gloving a chance down the legside to Alex Carey.
Root goes for 21, with England 120 shy of victory.
That is a crucial wicket with lunch just 15 minutes away – but it brings England’s matchwinner, Ben Stokes, to the crease.
9.55PM: ENGLAND PASS HALFWAY AS ROOT, BROOK TAKE HOLD
The crowd has erupted into a rendition of Jon Bon Jovi’s Living on a Prayer, mainly because of its chorus: oooooh, we’re halfway there.
Because they are. England passed the halfway mark of their chase with Joe Root hitting a blistering cover drive off Pat Cummins.
Root’s partnership with Harry Brook has quickly settled the England innings after Zak Crawley’s dismissal, and with 20 minutes to play in the elongated morning session the hosts are up to 3-129.
Still no sign of Todd Murphy in this opening session.
9.45PM: BROOK PUNISHES AUSTRALIA IN BRUTAL BURST
This is the biggest danger (not named Ben Stokes) for Australia – Harry Brook has found his rhythm and is beginning to attack.
After a quiet start when he tested the waters, Brook has looked more like the batsman he’s been the past 18 months as he raced to 21.
He can score so quickly that Australia simply cannot let him get going. And he’s got going alright.
In commentary, Mark Taylor is pondering why Pat Cummins hasn’t turned to Todd Murphy as an option.
I’m only speculating, but I think Australia feel that with the replacement ball – and the movement they’ve seen since it was introduced – Cummins is trying to squeeze as much out of his seam bowlers before turning to the young spinner.
But if he waits too long, it might be too late.
England are 3-120, needing a further 131 runs.
9.30PM: AUSSIES ON THE WARPATH AS BALL CHANGE WORKS WONDERS
Things are starting to happen for Australia at the moment. A couple of overs ago they convinced the umpires to change the ball which had suffered a bit of damage – possibly on one of Zak Crawley’s thumping boundaries.
But its starting to swing a tad more, and Australia have claimed the wicket of Crawley since that change.
And Mark Taylor believes this is a critical moment in the match – a vital partnership for England, but a golden opportunity for Australia to really ram home the inroads they’ve made this morning.
“Joe Root who is a fine player, but just not at his very best at the moment. Harry Brook who has gone from 5 to 3 and back to 5 and looks a little out of sorts – and all of a sudden the pressure is on the England batters,” says Mark Taylor.
9.19PM: WICKET! MARSH ENDS CRAWLEY’S DANGEROUS KNOCK
The runs are flowing, but this has quietly turned into a very fruitful session for Australia.
Mitchell Marsh comes in, and as he’s done all Test he comes up with a big moment – this time taking the key wicket of Zak Crawley.
Crawley looked well set and with a big score on his mind, but he was beaten by Marsh’s extra bounce and is out attempting to drive a ball that just gets a bit big on him.
Thick edge to the keeper Alex Carey, and suddenly England are 3-93.
Crucial partnership coming up for both teams – Joe Root and Harry Brook in the middle, with England needing 158, and Australia a further seven wickets.
9.05PM: WARNEY’S EPIC PREDICTION IDENTIFIES AUSSIE DOWNFALL
Even from beyond the grave, the late, great Shane Warne is still two steps ahead of the rest of the cricketing world.
With Zak Crawley doing a demolition job on Australia this morning, motoring towards a half-century as England steadily eat into this run chase, it’s worth remembering Warne was an enormous fan of the tall opener.
So much so that he predicted the occasionally maligned batsmen would be a ‘superstar’ - and one that would trouble Australia.
“He is a superstar in the making and he’ll love the Australian pitches,” Warne told the Daily Telegraph two years ago, ahead of the most recent Ashes in Australia.
And while Headingley isn’t Hobart, it is the wicket that has played the fastest this series and perhaps the most similar to what Crawley has faced in Australia.
At drinks in the morning session on day four, Crawley is unbeaten on 40 with England 2-82 – needing a further 170 runs to keep this series alive.
8.55PM: GREEN PUSHES CASE FOR MANCHESTER RETURN
Australian all-rounder Cameron Green missed the Headingley Test after picking up a minor hamstring injury, replaced by Mitchell Marsh who has gone on to perform admirably – particularly with the bat.
Australia were always optimistic that Green would be fit for the fourth Test in Manchester, though Marsh may have thrown a spanner in that plan with his tremendous efforts in Leeds.
Green is eager to prove his fitness, however, and had a gentle trundle with the ball before play before joining the action as a substitute fielder earlier today.
Meanwhile, CODE Sport’s Daniel Cherny reports that seam option Michael Neser has been released to play for Glamorgan this week, but will rejoin the squad ahead of Manchester Test.
8.45PM: WICKET! ENGLAND BATTING SHAKE-UP BACKFIRES
England are two down – and Mitchell Starc has both scalps.
This one, an arrow-straight thunderbolt that zeroes in on Moeen Ali’s middle stump, shatters the poles and gives Australia a serious boost early on day four.
Moeen, who was promoted to No.3 in place of young star Harry Brook, lasted 15 deliveries and scored 5.
England require a further 191 runs to keep the series alive, while Australia need eight wickets to retain the Ashes.
But did England’s batting lineup shake-up pay off? No, says former England captain Nasser Hussain.
“The move to No.3 hasn’t worked for Ali, or England,” says Hussain.
8.35PM: ENGLAND’S CHASE GOES SUB 200
England’s surprise shift of Moeen Ali up the order could be worth watching. He played a nice attacking knock in the first innings that helped trigger England’s fightback in this Test.
He’s a confident batsman who will go after the bowling, as England look to eat into the Australian target quickly.
It’s a bold tactic, but one that could pay large dividends if Moeen is able to survive the early fireworks from Australia.
England have already whittled the chase down to below 200, with Zak Crawley leading the way on an unbeaten 25.
8.20PM: WICKET! STARC MAKES THE EARLY BREAKTHROUGH
Mitchell Starc with another strong LBW shout against Ben Duckett – and it’s given!
It looked live as if it might be just sliding down legside, and Duckett reviews immediately.
But it proves in vain, he’s shuffled far enough across the stumps for that to be hitting halfway up leg stump.
He goes for 23, and England at 1-42.
And Duckett’s exit brings a surprise batting order shake-up from England – with Moeen Ali promoted to No.3 in place of Harry Brook.
A positive move? Or a knock on Brook after his lacklustre first-innings?
“Moeen came into this Test averaging less than 15 at No. 3 in Test cricket,” says CODE Sport’s Daniel Cherny.
8.18PM: STARC DENIED ON STRONG LBW SHOUT
Mitchell Starc has a very strong LBW appeal to Ben Duckett turned down, and Australia opt against a review.
It looked very, very close live and ball-tracker indicates that Starc was right to grumble after being hit with a not-out verdict: Duckett was hit in line, and the ball would’ve hit the stumps, but Duckett has been saved by the height.
Had Australia tried for a review, Duckett would’ve survived as it would’ve been umpire’s call.
But that is the sort of chance the tourists need to go their way if they are to give this England chase the wobbles.
8.10PM: ENGLAND CHASE OFF TO A FLYER
A confident start from England, with two openers who know only one way of playing: attack, attack, attack.
Two overs in and they’ve played on the front foot and with conviction to shave another 10 runs off the chase (just 214 required now)
Mitchell Starc was able to generated some tasty movement on his inswinger to the right-handed Crawley, which should give him plenty to think about.
8.00PM: IS THERE ANOTHER TWIST COMING IN THIS MADCAP SERIES?
England need a further 224 runs. Australia need 10 wickets. There are some clouds in the sky, but not a drop of rain to speak of.
“England will feel this is their time to get back in the series,” says Mark Taylor.
One thing I will guarantee you – there will be another twist or two.
The way the entire series has been played, the rule has been clear: when one team is on top, they’re only moments from a fall.
The Ashes rollercoaster has been so wild that if it were at Disneyland it would have a 16+ age limit.
“Both sides have gone toe to toe every day, every session,” says former England captain Eoin Morgan.
7.50PM: IT’S ALL TO PLAY FOR
There’s 10 minutes until the first ball of the fourth day – an elongated day, with an extra half hour available if required and rain permitting, owing to the time lost to bad weather yesterday.
Will we see a result today? It’s very much on the cards.
England require a further 224 runs and history shows that chasing at Headingley has become an easier proposition in recent years.
The hosts will back themselves to not just chase down the target of 251, but to do it quickly. That’s been their Bazball mantra and you shouldn’t expect it to change here.
And with 98 overs on offer today, there’s plenty of time for both nations to push for a result if the rain manages to miss Leeds for the next eight hours.
However Australia will be encouraged by the fact that each of the three innings have been relatively low scoring – and getting smaller, as the Test has gone on - suggesting there are enough demons in the wicket to cause some problems for the batsmen.
7.30PM: MURPHY LAUGHS OFF BARMY ARMY’S CRUEL SLEDGE
Australia’s Ashes debutant Todd Murphy has been thrown a baptism of fire following the series-ending injury to Nathan Lyon.
And he’s learning quickly about just how hostile the historic showdown between Australia and England can be.
The 22-year-old off-spinner was given an intimidating welcome by the England fans at Headingley, with the Barmy Army singling him out for particularly harsh treatment – dubbing him a ‘shit Harry Potter’.
But showing he has the temperament for this arena, Murphy laughed off the nasty barbs.
“I copped a bit of everything out there,” Murphy said.
“I’m an shit Moeen Ali, I’m an shit Harry Potter, it is all in good fun.”
Replacing Lyon, however, is a different prospect entirely and one the promising star will have to deliver on on Sunday for Australia to be a chance of sealing the Ashes.
“It’s a challenge. I think it’s always going to be hard to live up to what Nath has done. He has been so good for so long,” Murphy added.
“I know I’ve got a few different strengths to him so it’s about trusting that and not trying to do exactly what he has done because I’m not capable of that. So try to bring a few things to the table and keep playing my part.”
7.00PM: DAY FOUR WEATHER WATCH
And now to the all-important question: will it rain today?
The short answer is: yes.
But the longer answer is that the rain isn’t expected to arrive until after lunch, with the morning session looking like ideal batting conditions for the not out batsmen Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett to make hay while the sun shines.
From about 2pm local time onwards, there is about a 75 per cent chance of rain through until the early evening – with a similar forecast tomorrow, should the Test match not be completed today.
Once the clouds start to roll in after lunch it would appear to be the best bowling conditions for Australia to make their mark.
6.45PM: ‘SUPERHUMAN’ STOKES CAN’T DO IT ALL HIMSELF
England know they have a not-so-secret weapon as they prepare for a day four runchase.
But they don’t want to be relying on Ben Stokes, he of the superhuman chasing ability, as they embark on a target of 251 to land their first major blow in this Ashes series.
England are 0-27 in the chase and, rain permitting, have two days to wipe off those runs.
And all-rounder Chris Woakes says the team should have a goal of knocking it off before having to bank on another Stokes miracle.
“Although we do realise he’s superhuman, he can’t do it every time,” Woakes said after starring with the ball on day three.
“Naturally we don’t want to be reliant on Ben all the time. Of course, we don’t. We want to be putting in performances all the way down the batting line-up.
“At certain points in this series, you’re always going to rely on certain people to put their hands up.
“Particularly in a run chase, you want your top six to get a score or one to do the bulk of the work.
“We realise he’s a world-class player and puts teams under pressure. But at the same time we know across the board from No.1 to No.11 we’ve got to put a good shift in.”
6.00PM: CAN AUSSIES COMPLETE ULTIMATE REVENGE?
Chris Woakes urged England to recreate the spirit of Headingley 2019 as they look to revive their Ashes hopes against Australia, but without any of the accompanying tension.
England ended Saturday’s rain-marred third day of the third Test on 27-0 in pursuit of a victory target of 251.
They have two days in which to score the remaining 224 runs they require but the pressure is on England in a match, at 2-0 down with three to play, they must win if they are to regain the Ashes.
In 2019, England made 362-9 to beat Australia by just one wicket in a thrilling Ashes clash at Headingley thanks mainly to current captain Ben Stokes’s astounding 135 not out.
That series ended all square at 2-2.
“I hope so, because that means we win the Test match,” said Woakes, when asked if England would invoke the spirit of 2019 on Sunday’s fourth day.
“It would be nice to do it a little bit easier this time,” added the seamer, who has taken six wickets in his first Test in over a year, including a valuable 3-68 as Australia were dismissed for 224 in their second innings on Saturday.
The past 12 months have seen England achieve several spectacular run chases, including a national Test record 378 against India at Edgbaston last year.
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