Pat Cummins called out for ‘poor captaincy’, Scott Boland branded ‘insipid’

Pat Cummins was slammed for “poor captaincy” and Scott Boland called “insipid” as the post-mortem to Australia’s defeat began immediately.

The finger-pointing began before the winning runs were scored as England stormed back into the Ashes series by securing a thrilling three-wicket win in the Third Test.

Australia made the hosts sweat as they chased 251 on day four but were thwarted by Harry Brook and Chris Woakes with victory in sight.

Mitchell Starc (5/78) was immense as he continually pulled the visitors back into the game and when the left-armer removed Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow in consecutive overs Australia needed four wickets with 80 runs to play with.

But a tactical shift from England, poor support bowling from Scott Boland in particular and a short-ball strategy that continues to frustrate some Aussie cricket fans combined to decide the day.

The Poms were ridiculed when they promoted Moeen Ali to first drop and he was out after scoring just five runs and facing 15 balls.

But it allowed Brook to return to his preferred position at five and he was the difference, scoring a match-winning 75.

Harry Brook delivered a match-winning 75. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Brook and Woakes (32 not out) put on 59 for the seventh wicket in a match-winning stand, before some late hitting by Mark Wood (16 not out from eight balls) finished the job.

Australia could have got there if it had just one bowler step up and follow Starc’s lead.

Boland finished the match without a wicket and leaked 49 runs from 11 overs in England’s second innings, while spinner Todd Murphy (0/13 from two overs) was reduced to a bystander as the pitch failed to take turn.

“The support bowling looked insipid,” tweeted veteran cricket journo Harsha Bhogle. “A lot of us thought Boland could be a game-changer but Australia are getting nothing from him.”

Cummins, after starring with six wickets in the first innings, wasn’t at his best either taking 1/77 - and he was again called out for turning to the short ball.

“Mark Wood destroyed our tail with fast pitched balls at the stumps (in the) first dig. Starc cleaned bowled, Cummins expecting a bouncer done cold LBW and Murphy bowled. Why on earth are our two most experienced men just bashing short s**t into the pitch? It’s hard to watch and been costly,” tweeted former Victorian wicketkeeper Darren Berry.

“Cummins obsession with bowling short cost Australia this test,” added WA-based radio host Oliver Peterson. “Poor captaincy.”

Pat Cummins wasn’t at his best but did manage to remove Joe Root for the 11th time. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

Cummins didn’t mention it but the Aussies have had real success against Woakes and Brook with the short ball - although it didn’t work this time.

The Aussie skipper was also criticised for placing two men on the boundary from the start of the day, giving relatively easy singles to the England openers as they started positively.

Zak Crawley second top-scored for England with 44 although he did fall attempting to hit the ball hard enough to beat the boundary fielder.

“I’ll have another look and see if there’s anything we might do differently ...,” Cummins said post-match. “I felt like we made some decent decisions out there.”

There was plenty that happened on days one to three that hurt Australia too, including the bowling at Ben Stokes at the end of England’s first innings - and the brain fades by Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith on day two.

Australia can hardly argue it deserves to be 3-0 given the underperformance of some of its players - and faces some huge selection calls ahead of the Fourth Test in Manchester in nine days.

12.35am - Wood, Woakes cap fine Tests with winning runs

Mark Wood has been a sensation in his return for England and he thrilled the crowd right to the end.

The express pace bowler put the finishing touches on the hosts’ win with some special boundaries.

But it was Chris Woakes who hit the winning runs, and deservedly so given his impact with bat and ball.

12.15am - England gamble ends up paying off

The Moeen Ali experiment at three might not have worked for the spinner but the pay-off of keeping Harry Brook at five has been huge.

Brook notched a crucial half century as he combined with Chris Woakes for what felt like a match-ending partnership.

Brook ended up becoming Mitchell Starc’s fifth scalp as he skied one on 75. But with just 21 runs to get, England looked home.

11.15pm - ‘See ya Jonny’: OK this contest is officially on

Australia has finally taken two wickets in quick succession and it’s getting nervy now for the Poms.

Mitchell Starc is playing a blinder and now has four wickets after forcing Jonny Bairstow to play-on for just five runs.

The Aussies appeared to say “see ya Jonny” as he departed, returning the friendly send-off the English keeper gave Steve Smith in Australia’s second innings.

England is six-down requiring 80 runs. Harry Brook is 47 not out and is the key wicket now. The English No. 5 just brought up 1000 Test runs in the least amount of deliveries in Test history.

But the mood has changed dramatically at Headingley - as this classic crowd photo illustrates.

11.05pm - Stokes gone but is it too late?

Australia has the big wicket of Ben Stokes but the runs required are down under 100 as Harry Brook looks to guide England home.

Stokes tickled a Mitchell Starc delivery down the leg side and was caught by Alex Carey for 13 to leave England five-down.

It was another 30-run partnership for the Poms and at this rate those types of stands will be enough. Australia has been unable to take wickets close together, preventing any real panic from setting in.

10.20pm - Cummins’ Root domination better than Broad against Warner

As we break for lunch it’s worth taking a closer look at Pat Cummins’ complete ownership of Joe Root.

During a Test in which so much focus has been placed on Stuart Broad’s domination of David Warner - and make no mistake that has become embarrassing for the Aussie opener - Cummins’ control of Root goes a little under the radar.

Cummins has now taken Root’s wicket in three consecutive innings to take his total Root count to 11.

Pat Cummins celebrates removing Joe Root for the 11th time. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

That leaves a bit of work to go during this series and the next Ashes to match Broad’s total of 17 Warner wickets - which could obviously increase if the left-hander gets selected for the next two Tests.

But in terms of averages, Root struggles more against Cummins.

The Aussie skipper has bowled 477 balls to Root across their careers, conceding 231 runs. That means he’s got Root’s wicket at an average of 21 - when the former England captain averages 50-plus against the rest of the world.

Warner averages almost 25 against Broad - still rubbish but better than Root.

10pm - Another twist as Cummins get the big one

Joe Root is gone and again Australia has life.

For the third time in this innings the Poms appeared to be finding a groove that would secure a comfortable win and for the third time the visitors have found a breakthrough.

Pat Cummins, after six first innings wickets, finally got on the board in England’s second dig by drawing an edge down the leg side from Root.

Alex Carey was in position for his second catch of the innings and a third England partnership was broken around the 30-40 run mark.

It left the Poms 4/131 but Harry Brook (40 not out) kept scoring quickly to push them to 4/153 at lunch.

9.40pm - Boland failing to have an impact

It’s just not been Scott Boland’s series so far.

The Aussie pace sensation started the tour in top form, taking five wickets in the World Test Championship final against India.

But it’s been slim pickings since.

Boland took 1/86 and 1/61 in the First Test before being replaced by Mitchell Starc and has gone wicketless in this match.

It’s likely to mean an even heavier workload for Starc and Pat Cummins today.

The boundaries have started to flow for Harry Brook as England looks to get the runs required under triple figures.

9.15pm - Marsh gets Crawley just in time

Zak Crawley was threatening to take the game away from Australia but he’s the third wicket to fall as Mitch Marsh strikes.

Crawley was scoring at his usual break-neck pace and had just creamed a cover drive to the boundary when Marsh found the edge of his bat.

Crawley went for 44 off 55 balls as England fell to 3/93. Now it’s time for Harry Brook, back in his usual position at five.

8.45pm - ‘Strange’ England gamble appears to backfire

The Poms will keep searching for a number three for the rest of the series after the gamble to promote Moeen Ali backfired.

The English offspinner, who normally bats at seven, was castled by Mitchell Starc for five runs to leave England 2/60.

“Strange move Moeen Ali to No.3. Result not so strange,” tweeted cricket journo Andrew Wu.

Perhaps the most head-scratching aspect of the order reshuffle was Moeen didn’t play with any real intent, making his runs from 15 deliveries.

Joe Root made a nervous start too as he played and missed at his first ball - is Australia back in the game?

Mitchell Starc celebrates dismissing Moeen Ali. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

8.20pm - Starc strikes, Poms pull surprise

Mitchell Starc broke an already damaging England opening partnership by trapping Ben Duckett LBW.

Duckett reviewed but the ball was hitting his leg stump and the Poms are 1/42.

It brought the first surprise of the innings as normal No. 7 Moeen Ali was elevated to first drop.

Harry Brook looked uncomfortable in his first appearance at No. 3 in the first innings, but this could also be an attacking move with Moeen out to play aggressively.

8.15pm - Aussie tactics labelled ‘strange’ and ‘stupid’

We’re only a few overs in but it’s already not the start Australia wanted.

Conditions look pretty good for batting and the England openers are playing with their usual intent.

They’ve been given a helping hand by the Aussies though as they look to gain early momentum.

Pat Cummins set his field with men in the deep on both sides of the wicket and it felt like there were singles everywhere for the Pommy pair.

Given the small total the visitors are defending, the approach has been questioned already.

“Leaving the field out (again) for a 251 chase, and then bowling straight, is one of the stupiest tactics I’ve seen on a cricket field - someone needs to have a loud word with Cummins and Ronald,” Telegraph senior reporter James Fitzgerald tweeted.

Aussie field set by Cummins seems strange . They ain’t going to restrict England over two days need to take wickets .Deep point ? #ENGvAUS#Ashes2023

— John Wright (@johnwright15) July 9, 2023