After dismissing the top four Australian hitters in the morning session, England got off to a strong start in the third Test match at Headingley. When England decided to bowl, they scored in the first over, kept things under control. England captured three additional crucial wickets on the first morning.
For each team, Lord changed the starting XI three times. Due to injury, Australia also had to make two adjustments: Todd Murphy took the place of the injured Nathan Lyon, while Mitchell Marsh took the place of Cameron Green. It was previously known about the changes England made to their starting lineup. Scott Boland took Josh Hazelwood’s position as the XI’s quick bowler.
However, none of those players participated in the morning session. However, the two English players who got the chance to start this game instantly stood out. Stuart Broad twice bowled out David Warner in the first over of the game. So Mark Wood picked up the pace to pose a threat to the opposition. Wood, who often bowled at speeds close to 95 mph, broke Usman Khawaja’s leg stump.
Marnus Labuschagne brilliantly responded after the wicket with a well-placed drive for a boundary. Australia continued to be cautious of Wood’s fierce session. At the other end, Ollie Robinson made contact with Steve Smith’s inside edge, but Jonny Bairstow’s attempted dive cost him the opportunity. Even though Chris Woakes faced Labuschagne in the very next over to seize the outside edge and put Australia back under pressure, England’s desperation did not last long.
By hitting two home runs in his first five pitches, as is his tendency, Travis Head attempted to intimidate England. Woakes received a short ball from Smith in the ensuing over. He pushed it over deep backward square for a six. Before lunch, Ben Stokes called out Broad and Wood for a quick practice session, and Wood was on the verge of scoring his second . When Head edged one down leg. Sadly, Bairstow blew an opportunity and once more revealed himself as the guilty party.
In the final over before lunch, Australia’s finest batsman knocked one behind to the wicketkeeper. Before Broad withdrew Smith, England had barely had a chance to lament the opportunity they had just missed with Labuschagne. The home team had a productive session, and Smith, who was taking part in his 100th Test, brought a review back to the pavilion to conclude it.
Brief scores:
Australia91/4 (Steve Smith 22; Stuart Broad 2/20, Mark Wood 1/8) vs England.
