Another thrilling match, another tinder-paper outcome. After four years in the wilderness, Mitch Marsh played an innings of his life
For now, Australia leads the Ashes 2-1
We slowly close the curtains around Headingley as it empties. In recent years, it has been deeply troubled, but it is still capable of hosting thrilling Test matches.
For now, Australia leads the Ashes 2-1
We slowly close the curtains around Headingley as it empties. In recent years, it has been deeply troubled, but it is still capable of hosting thrilling Test matches.
Another thrilling match, another tinder-paper outcome. After four years in the wilderness, Mitch Marsh played an innings of his life; Stuart Broad squeezed his bunny twice more; Mark Wood provided England with the fire they had been lacking and changed the character of the game with his batting; Stokes was epic with the bat; Cummins with the ball; Travis Head teed off; Chris Woakes proved his all-round value; Moeen trapped the big two beasts; Mitch Marsh struck thunderbolts and Harry Brook made Headingley fall in love with him again. We’ll be back for the women’s ODI on Wednesday, the Old Trafford Test a week later. Thanks for all your smart and funny messages, apologies again for not using them all. I hope you have a wonderful afternoon, bye!
The greatest super sub in the world is Chris Woakes.
“There have been moments when I’d have liked to play a bit more, and obviously the more you play, the more you get used to playing at that level.” It’s great to have Jimmy and Broady around as I’ve learned so much from them…. As the years go by, I’ve gotten the hang of it.
“It’s pretty epic playing in front of a packed Headingley. Although we didn’t win the first two Tests, we felt like we had the support of the country. This reminded me of Stokes’ feelings four years ago. Keeping the Ashes alive was a great feeling.”
We salute you, Mark Wood! Starc fires a thunderbolt at him and he cover drives for four. It’s a belated wide call. As Carey sprints, a top-edge flies high but out of reach. Woakes screams four to the rope to win! England’s team is home after two changes from Lord’s. Woakes and Wood embrace on the field, Headingley gets louder, even louder, and this time, as the team shakes hands, they are smiling.
It appears that Ben Stokes is exhausted. He has no doubts, however.
Can England win the Ashes? “Yes, of course.”. No hesitation.”
“It’s completely different when it’s out of your control. I just sat up there thinking about what would I be doing if I was out there. Brooky controlled the game very, very well.
I’m just tired, it’s been draining.”
He lavishes praise on his team “Under the pressure and circumstance of the series, Brook got us over the line. There were some smaller ones, Woakesy, Woody going down in that blaze of glory.
“But Brooky has got a very good head on his shoulders, he’s a very talented boy, we’ve let him propel himself.”
“Mo came up to Baz and said, let me have a go at three. Free hit is not the right word, but we thought he could have more influence at three than eight.
“It didn’t work, but I loved that Mo took that responsibility.”
And on the ground where he became immortal in 2019 “Headingley day four, yet again, it’s some place to play cricket. I don’t know what it is, it seems to bring out great games.”