July 6th 2023.
England bowler Mark Wood made an incredible start to the third Ashes Test at Headingley, taking five wickets in a rapid spell to reignite England's hopes of keeping the series alive. Wood's incredible bowling set the tone for what was to become an action-packed first day of the match.
In the first over, Stuart Broad dismissed David Warner for the 16th time, thanks to an edge to second slip. Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne then took advantage of the rapid Headingley outfield before Wood knocked Khawaja over in an incredible spell clocked at 96mph before lunch. Labuschagne was then removed by Chris Woakes, who had been selected for the first time since March 2022.
The momentum shifted after lunch, with Mitchell Marsh taking full advantage. Playing his first Test since 2019, Marsh quickly found his touch, hooking Wood and Woakes for sixes and taking down the off-spin of Moeen Ali for a brutal century. This put on 175 in 167 balls with Travis Head, who was dropped on 12.
But England was soon given a reprieve. Ollie Robinson left the field with a back problem, and the hosts were relieved to see the back of Marsh on the stroke of tea, Woakes dismissing the all-rounder for 118. Wood then cleaned up Head and the tail, taking five wickets to complete his five-fer. Australia were all out for 263.
England then dropped four catches as their issues in the field continued, Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley and Harry Brook being nicked off to leave the hosts 22-2. Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow then put on a 43-run partnership before Crawley edged behind, leaving England 68-3 at stumps.
Root and Bairstow will look to eat into England's deficit of 195 tomorrow, but with Australia dominating so far, the time for talking is certainly over.
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