Ashes cricket 2023: England fight back after Ben Stokes masterclass, Aussies cruelled by crazy errors
It won’t go down as a memorable 100th Test with the bat for Steve Smith and Jonny Bairstow let him know about it during a tense exchange between the two.
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Australia remains searching for solutions to tame Ben Stokes who stands as the major barrier between the tourists and an unassailable 3-0 series lead.
Despite battling with a knee issue which has kept the all-rounder from bowling this match, the England captain once more tilted an Ashes Test in his side’s direction with a gutsy 80 against the tide on Friday at Headingley, rescuing the hosts from a position of despair at 7-142.
Stokes led England to a first innings total of 237, and with Australia 4-116 in its second innings (a lead of 142) at stumps on day two, the third Test was very much alive.
Despite forecast rain in Leeds on Saturday, a winner still appeared likely given the amount of time left in the match.
England must win to have any chance of regaining the Ashes.
Stokes almost single-handedly brought England back from the brink in the corresponding Test four years ago and then made 155 in vain at Lord’s last weekend.
Australian coach Andrew McDonald conceded the presence of Stokes spelled danger for his team.
“When Ben Stokes is there you are never in total control. We have seen that over a period of time,” McDonald said.
McDonald noted that Stokes was dropped twice off the bowling of young spinner Todd Murphy, once in the deep by Mitchell Starc and once off a caught and bowled chance.
“We were able to create a couple of opportunities so it was a bit of dysfunction on our behalf. Todd Murphy’s first over could have looked a lot better and then he was able to get a few boundaries away,” McDonald said.
“We feel like after losing the toss and where the game is positioned, we feel as though we are in a pretty strong position. We’re 142 ahead and no doubt it could have been better. But full credit to Ben once again, his ability to bat with the tail is second to none over a period of time.”
England spinner Moeen Ali who defied his troublesome finger to bowl 17 straight overs on Friday afternoon to claim the wickets of Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith - his 199th and 200th in Test cricket - said Stokes provided hope.
“I think he’s the one player in the world (that would worry a team). I think everybody will be thinking in that situation especially against Australia because he has done it a couple of times now,” Ali said.
“And as long as he’s there, like white ball, red ball, whatever it is, as long as he’s there. You’ve always got a great chance of winning. So he’s obviously a brilliant player and he’s a great captain, by the way, but he’s, yeah, as long as he’s there. We’ve got a good chance.”
Ali meanwhile downplayed any hint of tension between the sides after Smith seemingly fired back at Jonny Bairstow over a mild send-off dished out by the England gloveman.
Having been dismissed for two after spooning a catch to Ben Duckett at mid-wicket Smith was unimpressed with Bairstow who looked to have given the former Aussie captain a send-off.
“See ya, Smudge!” Bairstow was caught saying on stump mic.
“What was that, mate?!” Smith responded, seemingly unimpressed.
That followed last weekend’s hostile final day at Lord’s which left the hosts seething over the stumping of Bairstow by Alex Carey.
“I didn’t know until Johnny said to me, all I said was ‘cheers Smudge’ or something,” Ali said.
“And then somebody mentioned it to me in the change room. But I don’t know exactly what was said. I was celebrating. I didn’t really see.
“(The sprit of the game has) been fine. I think this game has been really good. I think all the games have been all right to be honest with you. Both teams have been pretty good and there’s been nothing major yet.”
Catch up on the other key talking points after another enthralling day of cricket.
OOPS I DID IT AGAIN
Bairstow had already blown seven chances behind the stumps for the series so what was another one? The England wicketkeeper put down Marnus Labuschagne down leg side on 32 off Mark Wood, the ball spilling from Bairstow’s left glove as he lunged.
MARN HAS A MARE
But Bairstow’s drop cost England just one run. Labuschagne bafflingly swept Moeen Ali to deep midwicket where he was caught for 33. It continued an extended run of unconverted starts for the world’s former No. 1 Test batter. While he has rarely completely flopped, Labuschagne has only passed 50 once in his last 16 Test innings.
WOOD AND THE WILLOW
Mark Wood made a stunning entrance into this series on Thursday and what he did on Friday was perhaps more remarkable. Arriving at the crease to start the day’s second session, Wood blasted Mitchell Starc from 18 runs off the five remaining balls of the Aussie paceman’s over. Wood eventually skied one from Pat Cummins to depart for 24 from eight balls.
SEEN THIS BEFORE
Wood started the post-lunch frenzy for England, but it was Ben Stokes who again carried his side. Unable to bowl in this match with a knee issue, Stokes once more pulled off a masterclass in batting with the tail, whacking his way to 80 including five sixes. Much of the punishment was dished out to Aussie spinner Todd Murphy, who had the England captain dropped in the deep by Starc before spilling a return catch the next ball.
RECORD MAKER
However Murphy got his first Ashes wicket eventually, and it was that of Stokes, who was caught brilliantly by Smith at long-on. It was Smith’s fifth catch for the innings, equalling a world record for a non-wicketkeeper in which he already held a share, having taken five catches in an innings during the Cape Town Test of 2018, best remembered for Australia’s ball tampering plot. Smith became the first man to take five catches twice.
OLLIE OFF
Having struggled to get between the wickets when batting with Stokes, Ollie Robinson didn’t bowl on Friday as he dealt with back spasms. Robinson started Australia’s innings off the ground but took the field late in the day to help ensure he would be eligible to bowl on Saturday if fit and needed.
CUMMINTH THE HOUR
Cummins took his first Test five-wicket haul in England, finishing with 6-91. In doing so, the Aussie skipper reached 87 Ashes wickets, drawing level with Keith Miller and Mitchell Johnson and passing Alan Davidson, Craig McDermott and Richie Benaud.
Recap all the action from our day two live blog.
STUMPS: BRAIN EXPLOSIONS COST AUSTRALIA ON SEESAWING DAY
Joe Barton
Australia have only themselves to blame for their current predicament, as they cling to a 142-run second-innings lead at stumps on day two.
At lunch, Australia were in a dominant position – having taken three wickets in the morning session to have England rattled and seemingly on the verge of conceding the Ashes.
Enter Ben Stokes, and revival of his Headingley fireworks from four years ago. A clearly hobbled Stokes played another magnificent rearguard knock, smashing 80 in quick time after lunch, to erase much of Australia’s first-innings advantage, limited to just 26 when he was the last man to fall.
England’s bowlers then backed up their captain, combined with a pair of stunning brain fades from Australia’s two most feared batsmen.
But first, it was Stuart Broad who knocked over David Warner for the 17th time in Test cricket – throwing the future of the out-of-form opener in doubt.
Australia seemed to be cruising before Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith both threw their wickets away to Moeen Ali in quick succession, while Usman Khawaja’s stoic knock was a late blow they could ill afford.
It leaves another rescue mission for Mitchell Marsh (17) and Travis Head (18) when play resumes on what is predicted to be a soggy day three at Headingley.
3.15AM: AUSSIE LEAD GROWS TO 136 AS STUMPS NEARS
As they did in the first innings, Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh are digging in and looking to cover up the blunders of their top-order.
It feels like Australia have given away a lot of the ascendancy in this Test but, as the great Bharat Sundaresan points out, nothing about this series has been straightforward.
Steve Smith getting out on Day 1 and Day 2 of his 100th Test & Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh trying to save the blushes for Australia after a collapse on back to back days is not how you’d have expected this Test to go but seems apt for this tough-to-predict series #Ashes
— Bharat Sundaresan (@beastieboy07) July 7, 2023
3.00AM: PIVOTAL HALF HOUR LOOMS FOR AUSTRALIA
Half an hour to go on – yes, another – pulsating day of this seesawing Ashes series.
And it feels as though Australia are just clinging on here.
They’ve lost 3-67 since the tea break, two to brain explosions and then the killer blow of Usman Khawaja’s wicket.
Their two best-performed batsmen of the first innings, centurion Mitchell Marsh and the dangerous Travis Head, are at the crease.
If Australia are to set a target above 250, they need these two to be there at stumps.
2.45AM: WICKET! HUGE WICKET! KHAWAJA FALLS
Australia’s afternoon has gone from bad to worse, with Usman Khawaja the latest to fall.
He departs for 43, and has played the best part of a lone role for Australia since tea.
Chris Woakes does the damage, angling the ball across the body and enticing a wafty dangle from Khawaja – which does no more than glance a catch to Jonny Bairstow, who hands on.
Australia are 4-90 and in deep trouble, with a lead of just 116.
There’s a little under an hour still to play this evening, with Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh coming together in a very similar scenario to the first innings.
Another wicket would throw Australia’s innings into disarray, if it’s not there already.
2.35AM: BAIRSTOW SLEDGE REVEALED
Steve Smith looked furious after his dismissal – but it wasn’t clear whether it was anger at himself, or anger at something said by England keeper Jonny Bairstow.
It certainly appeared that Smith had been ticked off by a comment from Bairstow.
But the stump mic audio has been picked up by Sky Sports, and if this is what has angered the Australian star then I’m a little mystified as to why.
Bairstow: See ya Smudge
Smith: What was that? Hey!
Bairstow: I said cheers, See ya smudge.
That’s play on in my areas, no matter how grumpy Smith was at his brain explosion dismissal.
2.20AM: SMITH’S ANGRY RESPONSE TO BAIRSTOW
It looks like Steve Smith was given a send-off by Jonny Bairstow after his cheap dismissal.
The Australian spun around quickly as he brushed past Bairstow on his way back to the dressing room and looked quite animated.
I wonder what was said?
“He’d better not have been mouthing off. He’ll cop it if he was,” says Ian Healy.
Perhaps it was a simple “congratulations on your 100th Test, mate”....
Certainly it was in the Spirit of Cricket, according to the sport’s moral arbiter Piers Morgan.
Oh dear, I don’t think Mr Smith liked the spirit of Mr Bairstow’s verbal game on his way off. Hope he’s OK. 🤣 pic.twitter.com/sNaFExgcxO
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) July 7, 2023
Meanwhile, it’s drinks and Australia lead by 99. They’re 3-73, but the mood of this innings has changed markedly since the Labuschagne dismissal. Just careless, mindless stuff.
2.10AM: WICKET! SMITH FALLS, AUSTRALIA RATTLED
One brings two! The cost of the Marnus Labuschagne wicket has just doubled, because Steve Smith follows his teammate back to the sheds
It’s another inexplicable dismissal, Smith clipping Moeen Ali to Ben Duckett at mid-wicket.
That is a gift from Smith, who goes for just 2 and Australia have now lost 2-4.
“Two of our most diligent shotmakers have gone to shots they can’t believe they’ve played,” says Ian Healy.
“They must be shaking their heads. Australia have got to stop this. Do not give this crowd anymore oxygen.”
Australia would’ve looked at Moeen as the least threatening of the England frontline bowlers, but it’s the spinner who has been gifted two wickets to take his career tally to 200.
2.00AM: WICKET! LABUSCHAGNE WASTES GOLDEN CHANCE
A brain explosion from Marnus Labuschagne, who was dropped the over prior by Jonny Bairstow, but throws his wicket away.
The formerly world’s No.1 batsman, Labuschagne is having a lacklustre series and that is a low point.
After soldiering his way to 33, he’s given a life by Bairstow who spills a gloved chance down the legside.
But instead of knuckling down and making England pay, he fails to add another run and instead lifts Moeen Ali down the throat of Harry Brook at deep mid-wicket.
He now has one 50 in his past 16 innings. He is a long way from being the No.1 Test batsman in the world, a title he took into this series.
It was a bizarre move, considering the Australian plan seemed to be intent on breaking England’s bowlers.
That is a very costly dismissal for Australia, who are 2-68, with a lead of 94.
1.46AM: BARMY ARMY TRY TO LIFT ENGLAND
Australia is 1-62, with their lead steadily building, and England’s bowlers toiling in the hot sun.
And around the ground the England fans have burst into a rendition of the endless Barmy Army chant.
It’s like I’ve been transported by to the mid-90s, when the travelling fans would watch their team get battered for days on end but there’d never be a second of silence.
That’s when the Barmy Army truly earned their stripes. They were mental. They were mad.
Today, they recognise that their attack needs a little lift. Australia have flattened out this contest, quite deliberately and the crowd is trying to change that.
Either that, or they’ve just had a skinful.
Meanwhile, Khawaja and Labuschagne have just brought up their 50-run partnership.
1.30AM: RUNS OR TIME? WHERE AUSTRALIA’S PRIORITY LIES
There’s been a very deliberate ploy from Australia following the David Warner wicket to take the pace out of the game, which has rattled along at frightening speed since yesterday.
Khawaja and Labuschagne seem very content to bat time, as they bring up Australia’s 50 in the 19th over. Their partnership, of 39, is crawling along at a rate of little more than 2 an over.
There’s three days to play after this session, and already 21 wickets have fallen. But there is also the threat of rain, with the forecast looking particularly ugly on days 3 and 5.
If rain is a factor, that could play into Australia’s hands in one sense: they know a draw will be enough to secure the Ashes, albeit not yet with a first series victory in England since 2001.
The responsibility of forcing a result would then fall to England – and it’s a role they’re more than happy to embrace.
The other factor, of course, is the punishment this is doing to England’s bowlers. There will be some tired bodies in the England dressing room already, and the physio tables are only going to get busier the longer they’re forced to stay in the field.
But there is still some life in the wicket, and the England attack.
A Broad bouncer catches the splice of Labuschagne’s bat and lobs up dangerously towards point – but there’s no fielder, and perhaps the Australian No.3’s luck has returned.
1.10AM: ENGLAND START FINAL SESSION WITH SPIN
It’s Joe Root and Moeen Ali to start the final session on day two, with Ben Stokes opting for spin from both ends.
There doesn’t appear to be a heap in the wicket for the tweakers, so this could be a move that is more to do with limiting the workload of England’s seam bowlers – with Stokes and Ollie Robinson unlikely to feature again today, and perhaps for the remainder of the Test.
And just as I type that… here comes Stuart Broad, replacing Root after one over.
Broad has had a monstrous workload this summer – no one has bowled more overs across the first three Tests – including an enormous effort at Lord’s earlier this week. But he always has something in reserve. Always.
12.55AM: IS DAVID WARNER’S SPOT IN DANGER?
David Warner’s latest surrender at the hands of Stuart Broad has revived conversations about his immediate future in the Test side, with Australian great Ian Healy declaring his spot isn’t safe for the fourth Test.
Warner had returns of 1 and 4 at Headingley, dismissed on both occasions by Broad who has now claimed that scalp an astonishing 17 times.
Warner has declared he will retire at the end of the Australian summer, but Healy is not convinced the veteran opener will last that long.
“I worry that we can pick him, even in the next Test of this series,” said Healy.
Complicating matters is that Australia’s two back-up openers, Matt Renshaw and Marcus Harris, aren’t exactly banging he door down and have questionable Test records themselves.
But former Australian captain Mark Taylor admitted the latest low score would add fuel to the fire for Warner’s critics.
“There’s no doubt the 1 and 4 he’s made in this game hasn’t the cause,” Taylor said.
“Today was as bad as I’ve seen. He looked jumpy and trying to pull balls that aren’t there to be pulled.
“(But) his catching has been very good, no David Warner leaves your first slip out.”
TEA: AUSTRALIA LOSE WARNER IN WILD MIDDLE SESSION
What an incredible session – one in which England, and specifically Ben Stokes, have wrestled momentum back from Australia.
Stokes slashed Australia’s first innings lead to just 26 as he dragged England to 236, and England’s spirits were further raised when Stuart Broad dismissed David Warner cheaply.
But Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne cooled things down as they set their sights on stumps, with Labuschagne creeping along to 7 from 33.
The pair have added just 18 runs in almost 10 overs to nudge Australia along to 1-29 – a lead of 55 runs.
What to make of how this Test is placed? Honestly, I’ve no idea. Australia perhaps just a smidgen in front.
There’s 3 days and a session still to play, although at least two of those days look like they’ll be heavily rain-affected.
But with 21 wickets having already fallen through just five sessions, the match has moved at such a rapid pace that you suspect a result would be possible even if there were a day (or more) that was entirely washed out.
12.33AM: KHAWAJA, MARNUS SLOW ENGLAND ONSLAUGHT
After the early Stuart Broad fireworks, Marnus Labuschagne and Usman Khawaja have done well to take the sting out of the new ball for the moment.
After ten overs, Australia have stemmed the bleeding. They’re 1-26, with Khawaja leading the charge on 19.
They’ll know that the new ball is a dangerous prospect on this wicket, which is playing faster than at Lord’s or Edgbaston.
But as we saw in both first innings, when Mitchell Marsh and Ben Stokes played ultra-aggressive knocks, once the ball gets a bit softer the wicket quickly flattens out and runs can be easier to come by.
England have used just three bowlers so far, Broad the wicket-taker, while Woakes seems to be the designated workhorse.
There’s no indication that Ben Stokes or Ollie Robinson will be fit to contribute with the ball today, or perhaps for the rest of the Test, and no sign of Moeen Ali yet.
12.15AM: WHERE DOES BROAD’S DOMINATION OF WARNER RANK?
Former Australia batsman Callum Ferguson said it is ‘hard to watch’ David Warner struggle against Stuart Broad after the Aussie opener’s latest battle.
But, after Broad claimed Warner’s scalp for a 17th time, where does it rank on the all-time bowler-batsman domination list?
Well, it’s not No.1. That’s been Glenn McGrath’s ruthless stranglehold over Michael Atherton since the late 1990s – he dismissed the former England captain a remarkable 19 times from 17 matches, at a cost of 9.89 runs apiece.
Atherton, who is commentating this series for Sky Sports, features heavily at the pointy end of the list with West Indian duo Curtley Ambrose and Courtney Walsh both dismissing him 17 times.
Australia’s Arthur Morris fell to England’s Alec Bedser 18 times, a mark that might be floating around in Warner’s mind when the series heads to Manchester next Test.
It is feasible that the record could be Broad’s, or Warner’s, alone before the Ashes are wrapped up at the Oval.
11.55PM: WICKET! LIKE CLOCKWORK, BROAD GETS WARNER
That’s No.17!
Just as night follows day, David Warner falls to Stuart Broad. And this is the dream start for England
You can almost set your watch to it. Broad, around the wicket, squares Warner up and he squirts a low chance to second slip where Zak Crawley takes a sharp catch.
Apparently there IS a little bit of magic still left in Broad.
“It must be right in Davey’s head, now. It’s tough to watch,” says former Australian batsman Callum Ferguson.
11.45PM: WHAT’S LEFT IN THE TANK FOR WEARY ENGLAND?
Ben Stokes has blasted England back into the contest in this third Test, but in doing so his body has taken a massive toll.
Which makes you wonder how much is left in the tank not just for England’s captain, who limped his way through the final hour of his incredible knock and didn’t bowl in Australia’s first innings, but for the rest of their fatigued line-up.
Ollie Robinson is struggling with back spasms, and looked hampered during his brief stay at the crease. Moeen Ali missed the second Test at Lord’s after opening up a wound on his spinning finger.
Mark Wood was England’s best bowler in the first innings, but was used in short, sharp bursts as England looks to protect the explosive, but injury-prone, bowler.
Which leaves the indefatigable 37-year-old Stuart Broad and Chris Woakes as two who may be called on to shoulder much of the workload for England.
Can Broad write another chapter into his Ashes heroics?
11.33PM: ALL OUT! STOKES DRAGS ENGLAND TO WITHIN 26
It’s over! Another utterly ridiculous innings from Ben Stokes, who finishes on 80 – caught on the boundary by Steve Smith after one last hoik off Todd Murphy.
England add 106 runs with their final four wickets, thanks largely to Stokes going into supercharged mode.
From 5-87, when Jonny Bairstow was dismissed inside the first hour of play, to the 7-142, when Chris Woakes fell in the final over before lunch, this has been an incredible fightback from England.
Stokes’ unstoppable counterattacking has hurt Australian before – and broken them at this ground, four years ago – but they still have no answer to it.
England’s innings finally comes to a close on 237, having drawn to within 26 of Australia’s first innings.
Australia takes a slender advantage – and there’s plenty of cricket to come on a sunny Friday afternoon in Leeds!
11.20PM: AUSSIE LEAD SLICED TO 38 RUNS
And just like that, Australia’s lead is down below .
Because Ben Stokes has done it again. He’s currently 73 from 100, has hit four sixes off a shell-shocked Todd Murphy, and is blasting England back into the second Test.
At this stage you’ve got to admit that Australia just do not have a plan when Stokes goes into T20 mode.
It’s freakish hitting. They’ve seen it before (and before that!), but have no answer.
11.10PM: WICKET! SMITH TAKES SUPERB GREAT
Stuart Broad departs, and it’s down to an absolutely outrageous outfield catch by Steve Smith – who gifts Cummins a sixth wicket.
Broad pulls hard and with authority, and it looks as though he has found the gap in the field between Smith and Labschagne, until the former Australian captain dives full-length to his right to take a spectacular catch.
Broad goes for 7, but he’s helped England eat into Australia’s lead. That is down to 64, and Stokes is still at the crease.
“That is a magnificent grab. That is such a good catch,” says Mark Butcher
11.05PM: DROPPED! AUSTRALIA GETTING STOKED ONCE MORE
Ben Stokes has got Australia exactly where he wants them: he’s hobbling, batting with the tail and in a seemingly desperate position.
Just how he likes it. After thumping three consecutive boundaries off Mitchell Starc, he’s trimmed Australia’s first innings lead to 82.
He’s moved to 40 and has switched gears. This is Headingley 2019/Lord’s 2023 Stokes, and if Australia aren’t careful they’ll watch their first innings advantage evaporate very quickly.
And it won’t help their cause after Stokes is dropped twice in consecutive deliveries – both off the bowling of Todd Murphy.
The first, a tough outfield catch grassed by Mitchell Starc, and the second a return offering than Murphy himself drops.
Neither was a gimme, but you expect both to be taken.
10.47PM: WICKET! CUMMINS ENDS WOOD CAMEO, HAS 5
Mark Wood is just fun.
There might not be a more entertaining eight-ball innings in the history of the Ashes.
The England tailender decided he was going to swing hard at literally everything that came his way, and it resulted in three sixes, a four and a stunning 24-run cameo before he became Pat Cummins’ fifth victim.
Woods’ skied pull went several kilometres into the sky, or so it appeared, but Mitch Marsh took a good catch at mid-wicket.
Cummins has 5-66. England trail by 98, with two wickets in hand.
10.45PM: WOOD EXPLODES WITH 18-RUN OVER OFF STARC
Australian greats Ian Healy and Mark Taylor have predicted a session of ‘bodybashing’ for England’s batsmen.
They are officially into the tail, now, with Mark Wood coming to the crease.
And Healy and Taylor say Wood, and those still to come, can expect a barrage of short stuff.
Judging by the field that’s been set after lunch, with a bat pad and then a lot of fielders on the boundary, they could be right.
But Wood is fighting fire with fire – thumping Starc for two sixes and a four in the three balls after the break in a ridiculous 18-run explosion.
10.30PM: LOCAL HEROES CRUMBLE AS ENGLAND FALTER
By Daniel Cherny, in Leeds
Yorkshire’s local heroes couldn’t save England as Australia crept closer to retaining the Ashes on Friday morning at Headingley.
Pat Cummins removed Joe Root with the second ball of day two before Mitchell Starc sent Jonny Bairstow walking – undisputedly this time – to leave the hosts facing an uphill battle to stay in the third Test.
A loose attempted pull from Moeen Ali gave Cummins a fourth wicket just before lunch, leaving England 6-131 and again needing something special from Ben Stokes to save them.
Having started the day at 3-68 in response to Australia’s first innings 263, England was desperate for experienced pair Root and Bairstow to consolidate after both had horror days in the field on Thursday.
But the Yorkshiremen couldn’t deliver. Former captain Root nicked Cummins to be sharply taken by David Warner at first slip for 19, giving the Aussie skipper his third scalp of the innings and making it 10 times in Test cricket that he has taken Root’s wicket.
In his first innings since being controversially stumped wandering out of his crease at Lord’s on Sunday, Bairstow once more flopped, gone for 12 as Starc continued his domination of the England gloveman by drawing an edge to Steve Smith at second slip.
LUNCH: ENGLAND LOSE FOUR IN OPENING SESSION
A wicket on the stroke of lunch, as another batsman falls to the short-ball – this time, Chris Woakes who takes an ugly swipe at a Mitchell Starc bouncer and feathers a chance to Alex Carey.
Woakes opts to review, but it was a genuine Hail Mary shot and replays just confirm what seemed obvious at first.
His dismissal caps a fantastic session for Australia, who took 4-74 – with two coming in the first half-hour, and two in the last 30.
And it was Pat Cummins who led from the front again, taking centre stage with a wicket on the second ball of the morning when he had Joe Root caught in the slips.
Cummins has 4-59, while England’s hopes rest on the increasingly broken body of Ben Stokes.
Stokes has been battling a lower back injury, but remains unbeaten on 27 and is surely the only remote chance England have of claiming a first-innings lead.
The hosts are 7-142 and trail Australia’s first innings total by 121.
9.45PM: WICKET! CUMMINS GRABS CRUCIAL PRE-LUNCH WICKET
It’s been coming, and now Moeen Ali is going.
For the second time in the over, Moeen top-edges a Pat Cummins bouncer. The first landed safely, but brought about a field change from Cummins.
And when the second went to almost the exact same spot on the field, Steve Smith was there to take a comfortable catch, ending a 44-run partnership.
With that, Cummins has four.
That was a useful contribution from Moeen, of 21, but England would’ve loved him to have reached lunch.
There remains considerable concern about the fitness of Stokes, meanwhile. He’s had some painkillers, but is clearly hampered by the lower back complaint.
How much will it restrict him? Australia will be happy to test him out.
9.30PM: CUMMINS GREATNESS REVEALED, STOKES RECEIVES TREATMENT
Half an hour to lunch, and Pat Cummins has brought himself back into the attack for a burst. His first ball is a short one, and Ben Stokes grimaces after pulling him down to fine leg.
The issue he’s having with his lower back/hip flexor complaint appears to be getting worse, and he gestures to the dressing room for some painkillers.
Speaking of Cummins, here’s a few statistics that highlight how historically brilliant he is.
After taking the wicket of Joe Root this morning, Cummins continued his stranglehold over the former England captain.
It’s not quite Broad to Warner, or McGrath to Atherton, areas just yet but Cummins has done a magnificent job on England’s No.1 batsman – nailing his wicket 10 times throughout their careers.
That wicket also, briefly, dropped Cummins’ career average beneath 22.
9.15PM: WORRY AS STOKES REQUIRES ATTENTION
A minor delay, shortly after drinks, as Ben Stokes receives attention to an injury around the backside.
He’s in discomfort, as he has been for much of this series it must be said. But in this instance it is not his troublesome knee which is causing him issues.
“He’s in the wars, Ben Stokes. The body is letting him down,” says Mark Butcher in commentary.
9.10PM: STOKES HOLDS ENGLAND’S HOPES IN HIS HANDS
One hour down on day two, and Australia will be doing cartwheels at how day two is travelling so far.
Both overnight batsmen, Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow, back in the sheds inside the first 30 minutes was a dream start.
But it’s brought out the most dangerous of beasts – backs-to-the-wall Ben Stokes.
Stokes has already put England on his back once this week, but they’ll need him to do it again today.
He’s steered the hosts past 100, which would’ve been their first target upon resuming this morning, and he’s steadying the ship along with Moeen Ali.
The pair have added 20 runs since Bairstow’s shocking dismissal.
Meanwhile, Australia’s thrown the ball to Todd Murphy who has worked his way through two economical overs.
8.55PM: UNEXPECTED EXTRA FALLOUT FROM LORD’S TEST
The painful fallout from England’s defeat in the second Test continues to be felt by the host nation.
In the wash-up of their 43-run loss at Lord’s, England lost No.3 batsman Ollie Pope to a series-ending shoulder injury, while fast bowler James Anderson was rested.
But rather than replacing Pope with a specialist batsmen, England opted to bring in Chris Woakes as his replacement while moving Harry Brook up the order.
The thinking there was that after Ben Stokes’ ironman efforts with the ball, he was going to need some seam bowlers.
And that came to pass, as Stokes didn’t bowl at all in Australia’s first innings, while Ollie Robinson – who backed up from the Lord’s Test – suffered from back spasms on day one.
But the unexpected result is that England’s tail has lengthened, with Moeen Ali to be followed by Woakes, and then England’s three specialist bowlers.
Once again it puts an enormous burden on the shoulders of Stokes. But, of course, he’s capable of the remarkable – especially against Australia.
8.45PM: STOKES GETS CRUCIAL LET-OFF
Oooh boy, did England need that.
Ben Stokes is trapped in front by Scott Boland in a very tight LBW call – and is given not out before Australia turn to a review.
Stokes is a long way down the pitch, but he’s hit low on the pad. However he’s saved by the line, with enough of the ball hitting him outside the line of off-stump to be deemed umpire’s call.
He’s a lucky boy. Because beyond that it’s crashing three-quarters of the way up middle stump.
8.27PM: WICKET! ENGLAND FALLING TO PIECES
Another one gone! This has been a disastrous opening half hour for England.
Both overnight batters are now gone, with Jonny Bairstow flashing at a wide half-volley from Mitchell Starc and slashing a high chance to Steve Smith.
That’s a lazy shot, and a lazy dismissal considering England’s game situation.
But it is a fine catch from Smith.
Just the 12, for Bairstow. England are 5-87, still trailing by 176.
Moeen Ali joins Ben Stokes in the middle.
8.15PM: CANBERRA’S ALL-TIME ASHES TRY CELEBRATION
The Lord’s controversy may never die, but at least it’s finally being used for good rather than mindless whingeing.
Because, moving away from Headingley for just a moment, in the NRL we’ve just seen possibly the greatest try celebration of all time.
The Canberra Raiders, having scored the opening try against St George Illawarra, took the opportunity to re-enact the infamous Jonny Bairstow stumping as part of a charity fundraising campaign by a betting agency.
Winger Jordan Rapana, the tryscorer, sent down a ‘bouncer’ directed at his English teammate Elliott Whitehead – who walked out of his crease ala Bairstow, and was promptly ‘stumped’ by hooker Zac Woolford while the rest of the team appeal.
That is a 10/10 celebration. Absolute perfection.
Jonny Bairstow's Lord's dismissal clearly made its way to Canberra's English contingent.
— Lachlan McKirdy (@LMcKirdy7) July 7, 2023
Some celebration this. #Ashespic.twitter.com/EUzgzZbh9W
8.10PM: ENGLAND’S ASHES HOPES BLOW UP
Is it going overboard to say that the Ashes could be decided in the next two hours?
Probably, yes.
But, still, a bad morning for England and the famous urn might as well be on the next plane.
After losing Joe Root in the opening over, the ingredients are there for England to find themselves in a world of hurt.
Still trailing Australia’s first innings by 190 runs, England has just Jonny Bairstow and Ben Stokes protecting a rather long tail from a fired-up pace attack that is making the most of the quickest wicket of the series.
For England, these two simply must bat through the remainder of this session.
8.00PM: WICKET! CUMMINS STRIKES AFTER TWO BALLS
Absolute disaster for England – with Joe Root removed with the second ball of the day.
It’s Pat Cummins again, and again it’s a nervous nudge outside of off stump from an England batsman.
Unfortunately for the hosts, it’s the talismanic Root.
The ball dies on its way to David Warner at first slip but, unlike Root yesterday, he makes no mistake in the slips.
Root fails to add to his overnight score, departing for 19, and England are massively in the mud. They’re 4-68 with Ben Stokes arriving at the middle, with another rescue mission in front of him.
7.30PM: WHAT ROLE WILL MURPHY PLAY?
Australia bowled 19 overs yesterday, and split them all between their four fast bowlers (including three for all-rounder Mitchell Marsh).
The notable absentee from Australia’s bowling cartel was young off-spinner Todd Murphy, who has be drafted in to replace the injured Nathan Lyon.
Australia had called on Lyon early in every innings where he was fit to bowl, and from there the GOAT shouldered a heavy workload.
It’s natural that there’s going to be less trust in a 22-year-old with just four Tests to his name, and worth pointing out that all 10 Australian wickets fell to seam bowling.
So how will Murphy be used by captain Pat Cummins today? It could be a crucial part of how the day plays out.
7.10PM: SUN SHINES ON ENGLAND
Just as it has done for, seemingly, the entire Ashes series – the sun is out, ready for England to do some damage with the bat.
Australian great Ricky Ponting was left near speechless during the Lord’s Test as whenever Australia came out to bat, the clouds rolled in over London while the England batsmen were treated to clear skies and considerably friendlier batting conditions.
And so it is today, with stunning conditions presented to the overnight batsmen Joe Root (19) and Jonny Bairstow (1).
Day 2. pic.twitter.com/QjWjF6rNGt
— Will Macpherson (@willis_macp) July 7, 2023
Trailing Australia’s first innings by 195 runs, it goes without saying that the first hour shapes as series-defining for England.
To keep this series alive, England needs to win this third Test. It’s that simple, and to do that they cannot afford to lose Root or Bairstow before lunch.
6.45PM: HAS ‘CAS-BALL’ COST ENGLAND THE ASHES?
By Robert Craddock and Ben Horne
England’s Bazball brigade has brightened up cricket, but may yet have to face the haunting question that can sentence a professional sportsman to a lifetime of regret.
Did you work hard enough?
Tiger Woods used to train for 13 hours a day in his prime; Michael Jordan six hours.
Behind the superstardom there was hour of hour of glamourless grunt to sharpen their muscle memory to the point where their instincts were like a touch typist during their most pressurised moments.
Sublimely talented though they were, Woods and Jordan may have finished off their rivals by overwhelming them with natural talent. But it started with hard work.
England, by contrast, is trying a different foot-off-the-pedal approach.
Former England captain Michael Vaughan has consistently questioned whether England’s players, who mainly played golf in Scotland the week before the Ashes rather than have a warm-up game, were drilling down on the basics enough to shine in this series.
The stats are now damning with another shoddy day in the field in the third Test taking England’s dropped catches tally in the series to 14 plus a missed stumping and two “wickets” off no-balls.
In the first two Tests, England bowled 40 no-balls to Australia’s 15.
Butter-fingered ’keeper Jonny Bairstow is responsible for six of the misses and on current form would be lucky to catch a train on the London subway.
Unimpressed Australian great Glenn McGrath has coined the term Casball (casual ball), noting how England was late on the field during the second Test and said the hosts’ relaxed attitude meant they were not fully switched on.
Former England quick Steve Harmison has noted that under new coach Brendon McCullum the English players are required to net for however long or little they so desire and said he was taken aback doing a pre-day pitch report in New Zealand this year when there were no English players on the ground.
He said there would be a time when the casual approach to training would rebound on them ... and here we are.
5.00PM: MARSH FAMILY’S WILD BALY CELEBRATIONS
Geoff Marsh missed being in Leeds for his son Mitch’s first Test century in five and ½ years after departing the UK earlier this week to join family in Bali for a celebration to mark his other son Shaun’s 40th birthday.
Marsh snr, the former Australian opener and coach, had been in England as part of an Australian tour group but departed before he learnt of Mitch’s likely inclusion in the Australian XI for the third Test.
Mitch found out on Tuesday that the Aussies’ primary all-rounder was in doubt for the match, receiving confirmation on Wednesday that Green was out after scans revealed a minor hamstring injury.
Needed to bat before lunch after Australia slumped to 4-85 after being inserted by England, Marsh capitalised on being dropped by Joe Root at first slip on 12 to smack a run-a-ball 118, proving the foundation of Australia’s first innings 263.
England was 3-68 in response at stumps, with Mitch having picked up the wicket of Zak Crawley.
Shaun, himself a former Australian player, posted a video on Instagram of he and Geoff dancing jubilantly after watching Mitch reach triple-figures from their holiday.
Having seen the video, Mitch joked that he was concerned for his brother’s welfare.
“Shaun’s 40th in a couple of days’ time so all the family is in Bali so let’s hope he gets to 40,” Mitch said.
The Marsh's celebrating Mitch's century is all sorts of elite 😂
— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) July 6, 2023
(via Shaun Marsh's Insta) #Ashespic.twitter.com/mvm9RRS0nA
Mitch, who has a reputation as an extremely popular teammate, said his father would have picked Bali over the UK even if he had known of Mitch’s call-up.
“Dad had just flown back that day. So he was mid-air when I found out that I was playing, but to be honest, I don’t think he was missing the 40th, that’s much more exciting. And obviously yeah all my family and all of our close friends are celebrating there with Shaun,” Mitch said.
Mitch, who last played a Test on the 2019 Ashes tour, said he had retained hope of a return despite his long hiatus and an ankle injury that ruled him out for much of the summer.
“(It’s) always a bit of a surprise (to be called-up) and very unfortunate for Greeny with a very, very minor hamstring injury but I feel like I’ve been his understudy for a few years, now on a lot of tours,” Mitch said.
“My previous experience on long Test tours is you always get a chance at some stage so I just wanted to stay ready and become the first man to score a Test 100 on a UK holiday.”
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