Ben Stokes again single-handedly reignites England’s fading Ashes hopes at Headingley

Ben Stokes’ innings at Edgbaston in 2019 was historic, his efforts on day two of this Test were reminiscent of that knock.

England captain Ben Stokes played through the pain to keep England in the third Ashes Test. Picture: Getty Images

Australia has had advantage ripped from its grasp and faces a difficult graft to post a competitive total for England to chase with three days left in the Headingley Test.

On the eve of lunch Australia appeared to have this still nascent Test match subdued and in a sack, a few overs after the break the visitors and the cricket world were reminded of just what this England side can do when cornered.

Or, to be a little more precise, exactly what Ben Stokes can do.

The England captain’s body is so busted it would not surprise to see him cross the ropes sometimes before the end of the series in a wheelchair. And even if he was, the Australians would know not to assume he was in any way diminished.

Going to lunch the home side was 7-142 and a long way behind Australia’s first innings’ 263. In the next 10 overs the deficit was reduced to pile of beans as Stokes and co blasted the ball to all parts.

When Stokes was dismissed for an 80 that included six fours and five sixes his side was 10-237.

Pat Cummins was the pick of the bowlers, picking up 6-91 with Mitchell Starc (2-59), Mitch Marsh (1-9) and Todd Murphy (1-35).

Sent out there to bat again, Australia is far from safety at 4-116 – a lead of 142.

Travis Head (18no) and Mitch Marsh (17no) will recommence on the third day with the local bureau of meteorology predicting rain for the last three days of the match.

David Warner has not had a good time in Leeds. Dismissed for just four in the first over of the first innings, he was out in the second for one. Marnus Labuschagne (33) continues to search for the ball and the form.

Labuschagne has passed 50 once in his past 16 innings and his average has dropped from over 60 in the summer to mid 50s.

He averages 70.5 at home and 40 away as so many Australian batters do — home is a country kinder to the top order than most.

Usman Khawaja (43) was patient for 96 balls before Chris Woakes produced a lovely delivery to have him caught by Jonny Bairstow.

The England keeper had earlier dropped Labuschagne and while the batter was dismissed immediately after, concerns over the keeper’s mistakes mount. He has now missed seven chances in the series.

Steve Smith’s 100th Test has been a forgettable affair as far as scoring is concerned. The No.4 clipped a simple chance to Ben Duckett at mid-wicket to become Moeen Ali’s 200th Test scalp.

Smith took five catches in the innings, becoming the first fielder in the history of Test cricket to do so. He now has 52 Ashes catches, one more than Allan Border (51).

The Stokes show in the overs after lunch changed the course of the match, although he was aided with some big hitting by Mark Wood whose 24 runs came from an extraordinary eight deliveries at the crease.

Steve Smith’s 100th Test has been a forgettable affair as far as scoring is concerned. Picture: Getty Images

Clearly in pain, barely able to hold his balance when called on to position himself for the big shots, Stokes set about the sort of scoring spree he has become so familiar with.

No boundary is too short, no bowler too skilful, no field too cunning to stop the all-rounder when he takes to the bowling.

Most exciting it was then to see Todd Murphy hold his own bowling from the Howard Stand end. In the match as replacement for Nathan Lyon, the off spinner was on a hiding to nothing with the short straight boundaries at the Headingley ground.

England were down eight wickets Stokes and Mark Wood were on a mission.

Wood hit 18 off the first four balls from Starc after lunch, Stokes hit the last three of his next over to the boundary.

Pat Cummins then replaced the left-armer with the kid who’d more than held his own in India but who has had relatively little experience at this level or against a batter in such a malevolent mood.

The skipper himself was having a hard time stopping the bleeding and had conceded 16 in the previous over.

When it came his turn to look take on the dragon, Murphy bowled, as is often noted, like a man wise beyond his 22 years.

He tossed the ball full and wide and should have had Stokes caught by Starc second ball of the over but the bowler failed to read the drop of the ball.

Murphy then put down a reasonably straight forward catch that was hammered back at him next delivery.

Four times in the next two overs Stokes connected and sent the ball sailing over the ropes and once more in the last over of the innings before the off spinner had him caught at long on.

Given the almost inhuman quality of the English skipper’s batting when out there with the tail, it was an impressive achievement by the young spinner.