Australia captain Pat Cummins lamented the batting collapse on Day 1 of the Headingley Test following the loss in Leeds. England have kept the Ashes 2023 alive with a thrilling 3-wicket victory in Headingley, the series now stands 2-1 with two Tests to go.
On Day 1, Australia looked in command, after being inserted in by Ben Stokes, when they were 240/4 with Mitchell Marsh hammering a century, playing in his first Test since the 2019 Ashes. However, Mark Wood and Chris Woakes ran through the Aussie lower-middle-order and tail to bowl them out for 263.
Ben Stokes’ heroics then chiseled down Australia’s lead to 26. Australia couldn’t really get going in their second innings, and it was only because of Head’s late assault that they set up a target of 251 for England, which the hosts got with 3 wickets hand, courtesy of a half-century from Harry Brook and good knocks from Crawley, Woakes and Wood in the end.
Pat Cummins pointed out that the collapse on Day 1 as the major reason for their loss.
“There were a moments that went back and forth on each day. We lost 6 wickets for 20 odd on day 1. Each session has swung in one team’s favour. We could have kept going,” Pat Cummins said in the post-match presentation.
Mark Wood was named the Player of the Match. He took 7 wickets in the match and scored 24 (8) and 16*(8).
Captain Ben Stokes felt fortunate to have someone who can bowl at 95 mph in his team. Heaping praise on Wood, Stokes said: “Having someone who can bowl at 95 mph is amazing. With the bat, he is just a free spirit. Goes back to the clarity. 24 off 8 balls was a massive swing in the game.”
Stokes also was in appreciation for “Mr. Consistent” Chris Woakes, who was playing his first Test in a year, but remained as good as ever in English conditions.
“We picked teams and look how they can impact us in the game. We try to see how they can be influential in the game. I didn’t realise that Woakes hasn’t played a Test for so long, he is Mr. Consistent. Having someone who can bat like him batting at 8 helps us. Hope he can do something similar when he plays next”
The 4th Test of the Ashes 2023 will be played from July 19 at Old Trafford, Manchester.
