NEWS
Follow UsAnother Ashes Test. Another thriller. England push themselves on the right side of the result this time, winning the Headingley Test by three wickets, going 2-1 in the series.
Resuming the day at 27/0, England chased down 251 losing seven wickets. “Thought getting up to 250 gave us something but it wasn't quite enough,” said the Australian captain, Pat Cummins, in the presentation ceremony.
It was another topsy-turvy day, sticking to the theme of nail-biting cricket throughout this series. Cummins reckoned Australia were ahead in the game but lost the plot on multiple occasions in the game.
"There's a few moments that went back and forth. [On] Day 1, we lost 6 for 20-odd, yesterday the sun was out and we missed an opportunity. Few key moments,” Cummins said in the post-match ceremony. In the first innings on Day 1, Australia collapsed from 240/4 to 263 all out.
In the second innings, Australia looked set to set England a target in excess of 300. However, the successive dismissals of Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith pushed the visitors back yet again. Both batters were out to Moeen Ali off deliveries that didn’t look threatening.
“One of those moments when it felt like we were in control but we lost a couple of wickets and that happens,” the Australian skipper spoke about Labuschagne and Smith’s dismissals.
Ben Stokes, the England skipper, reckoned the changes England made in the XI left a decisive impact on the game. England brought in Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes and Mark Wood at the expense of the injured Ollie Pope, Josh Tongue and James Anderson. Woakes was playing his first game since Stokes started his journey as the full-time captain in June, 2022.
“I didn't even look at the fact it's been so long since he'd [Woakes] played red-ball. He's a quality performer. He's Mr. Consistent. Having someone who can bat like the can at No. 8 is a massive help, and when the ball's doing a bit in the air or off the pitch he's massively in the game,” Stokes talked about Woakes.
Wood was the player-of-the-match for his seven wickets in the game and scored 40 vital runs in only 16 balls.
“When you've got someone who can come in and bowl 95mph, it's a massive help,” Stokes said about Wood’s contribution. “It impacts the game, whether he's taking wickets at one end or they come at the other. Great to see him smiling, running in and bowling rockets. And with the bat, he's a free spirit, and very clear in his mind. He walked out knowing how he wanted to take the game on, doesn't always come off but it gives you a better chance.”
England made a strange call at the start of the day, promoting Moeen Ali to number three. While everyone felt it is to play Harry Brook at number five, Stokes revealed Moeen himself wanted to bat up the order.
“Mo always wants to impact the game, he said to Brendon [McCullum] last night that he wanted to take them on and have a crack at No. 3. Felt like he could have an impact up the order,” revealed the England skipper.
Cummins underlined Mitchell Marsh’s hundred in the first innings as one of the positive signs for his team despite the defeat. With Cameron Green expected to be fit for the fourth Test, the skipper feels it will be a happy headache for the Aussies to pick the XI.
“Good problems to have. He [Marsh] was awesome, four years since last game. Great to see him back in, few headaches ahead,” he said.
The fourth Test n Manchester starts July 19 onwards. Both captains are looking forward to the 10-day break.
“I think it will be great for both teams, it's 2-1 and the next game is vital, so we want to be fresh and ready. Three games of unbelievable cricket, so the break will do quite a few bodies the world of good,” said Stokes.
Cummins was on board with his counterpart’s thoughts. “Few days off to recharge, people are flying off to various places but we'll come back together excited for Manchester,” said the Australian captain.
