Having won the first two Tests, Australia now have their backs against the wall as they head towards match four at Old Trafford. Photo: AFP/Paul Ellis
The impossible continues. For England, winning the last three Test matches against a team as strong as Australia would be an incredible feat. They are now a third of the way — and they have the template to win the last two tests.
No one can deny how difficult it will be, but England can still win this Ashes series 3-2. England have momentum.
It's so hard to win the Ashes series away from home and Australia was painfully close. Recovering from this psychological blow will be a huge challenge for Pat Cummins and his team.
England overcame the first hurdle — they won the test match. To win the last two games in English conditions, we must hope that the weather will help them. But the speed at which England are gaining points means that if we miss an odd day due to rain, they will probably still be the result.
That Harry Brook has kept his cool under so much pressure in early in his testing career against the best in his home territory tells me he's made of something special. Returning to fifth place in the second innings was England's masterstroke.
Harry Brook showed maturity and poise, scoring a vital 75 in the second innings. Photo: Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith
I like teams that do something here and now, which is a bit out of the box. I love seeing cricket teams cleverly think about these tactical maneuvers to help the team. Moin Ali, who hit the ball at three o'clock, was one of them. At first glance, it did not work: he scored only five. But Moen's move meant Brook could go back to five, where he feels much more comfortable.
I don't care if Moin continues to bat on three. Ben Stokes could also hit at three, but after what he did at six this series, I'd rather have him stay there.
After such a thrilling chase for the ball, much attention will be paid to the performance of the England team. But we have to be clear: it was the bowling that really won England this Test match and put them back in the series. This English team has found a way with the ball in hand to simply create doubt in the minds of Australia. The Aussies haven't broken the 300 mark in the last three innings.
Mark Wood was a real eye-catcher at Headingley. He frightened the Australians — not only the tail, whom he blew off, but also the highest order. We saw it from the moment he cleared out Usman Khawaj on the first day. What a brilliant performance since his return.
Copy of boycott briefing, third test day, fourth after the game
Chris Wookes once again showed what a good cricketer he is in English conditions. We're talking about Stokes' all-round brilliance, but Wokes, with his stealthy approach, is always who you want with the Dukes ball. Here in England, he always scores.
Woaks averages 22 points with the ball in English conditions. He also poses a threat with a bat. He showed all his calmness and intelligence in the decisive pitch on the fourth day.
Mark Wood and Chris Wookes starred with bat and ball in the three-wicket win. Photo: PA/Danny Lawson
Stuart Broad was exceptional in every episode. I don't think any of us thought he would play all five Tests in this series, but Broad seems to be getting better and better — and he maintains that hold over David Warner. I think he should play at Old Trafford. I don't want to hear that he is resting — there are nine days left until the fourth Trial.
So I played with Wood, Wakes and Broad at Old Trafford. If Ollie Robinson doesn't fit, there's a big decision to be made about the last seamer. Don't pick Jimmy Anderson just because it's Jimmy Anderson at Jimmy Anderson End. In Ashes, you can't be sentimental. England should only pick Anderson if they genuinely believe he is a bigger threat than Josh Tong, who was really good at Lord's. Together with Tongue and Wood, England could have gone even further in their approach to the short ball game.
When bowling shoots this way, the batting approach also works much better. If Australia completes 500 Test runs, then England essentially only needs to hit 125 Test overs to win. This is much easier than thinking they have to play 160 overs.
Is there an opportunity for James Anderson to return to the starting XI at Old Trafford? Credit: Images in motion via Reuters/Matthew Childs
Baseball is sometimes too risky and can get the opponent involved. But Australia, in its second innings, showed the danger of playing too cautiously. You saw Australia play Moen Ali on the second day — 17 overs for 34 runs. Then, when Australia tried to be more aggressive, they looked almost confused, and Marnus Labouchagne and Steve Smith both got off lightly.
Everything I saw in Headingley with this English side showed me how excited they are. On the first day at the Lord's, they were not included. In Leeds, the real bowling and the active nature of the game was great.
I think England made a lot of mistakes at Headingley — with their catching and with the choice of some shots. They can get better — which is dangerous for Australia — and they've shown they can win without Stokes being the hero every time. But I still think they need to improve on the pitch to even the score.
England loves a noisy crowd — and at Old Trafford it will be the same. This is a rock star team at its best when the crowd goes crazy. And they're led by a rock star captain who just loves the big stage. It couldn't be more than the Ashes home series when the matches are so close and the stakes are so high.
So England have a good chance to build on this victory and succeed again at Old Trafford. If we can get to the Oval 2-2, with one player, it will be the greatest test series of my life.
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