ENG vs AUS 3rd Test: At the end of day 1 of the Headingley Test match, there wasn’t Australia or England, who dominated the day’s play. The game kept swinging both ways throughout the day’s play. It was England, who dominated the first session as Australia lost four wickets for just 85 runs on the board.
It took only 5 balls for Stuart Broad to, once again, get rid of David Warner in Test cricket. He had Australia edged the ball to the first slip. Making his comeback in Test cricket, Mark Wood exhibited a scintillating opening spell, bowling consistently over 150 clicks.
After consistently pitching short-of-length deliveries, he bowled a fuller one to Usman Khawaja, which went through the gate and Khawaja’s stumps, as a result, were uprooted. Wood also troubled Labuschagne a lot with his searing pace but it was Chris Woakes, once again, who picked the wicket of the Australian. He departed for 21, once again, failing to convert the start into a big score.
England got the big wicket of Steve Smith in the 25th over when Broad had one to nip back in after pitching and it took the inside edge onto the keeper. Smith departed after scoring 22 off 31 as Australia were put on the back foot.
Marsh-Head partnership turns the tide for England
However, just when it looked like England would bundle out Australia soon, a partnership developed with Marsh and Head. The former was the aggressor, while Travis Head was happy to play as the second fiddle.
Coming in as a replacement for Green, Mitchell Marsh put on a show with the bat. He brutally hit the cricket ball to all parts of the ground and went on to notch his third century in Test cricket. Marsh got out after scoring a fabulous knock of 118 off 118 balls.
However, he put Australia in a wonderful position. But, once again, when it looked like the game had tilted in Australia’s favour, Mark Wood came back to produce a sensational fast-bowling spell.
He picked the wickets of Alex Carey (8), Starc (2), Cummins (0), and T Murphy (13) to end up claiming a five-wicket haul and bundling out Australia for 263 in the first innings.
Australia, however, fought back with the ball. Pat Cummins, once again, led from the front. He picked the wickets of Duckett (3) and Harry Brook (3) to reduce them to 22 for 3. Zak Crawley (33 off 39), once again, was guilty of not converting the start into a big score.
At the end of day 1, England have lost three wickets for 68 runs and trailed by 195 runs.
ENG vs AUS 3rd Test Brief Scores
England 68 for 3 (Root 19*, Bairstow 1*) trail Australia 263 (Marsh 118, Wood 5-34) by 195 runs
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