Ashes 2023: 3rd Test Day 1 – Review

Ashes 2023 3rd Test Day 1 Review

Ashes 2023 3rd Test Day 1 Review, ENG vs AUS 3rd Test Day 1, England vs Australia 3rd Test Day 1 Match Highlights, ENG vs AUS 3rd Test Day 1 Summary, Ashes 2023 3rd Test, England vs Australia.

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The series was on the line for England as they walked out on the field in the 3rd Ashes Test at Headingley, Leeds. England had announced their playing XI in advance. The 3 changes made cricketing sense and it added depth to England’s bowing and batting departments.

Australia had kept the cards close to their chest. They were certain to make one change but ended up ringing in three. Mitchell Marsh as was reported earlier replaced Cameroon Green. Scott Boland came in place of Josh Hazlewood. Both sides thereby ended up making 3 changes apiece.

The toss went England’s way once again:

England for the third time on the trot won the toss. They had no qualms about putting Australia into bat. The pitch appeared to be the hardest surface so far. There appeared to be bounce and carry. The first hour soon validated this thought. It appeared that England once again have won a very good toss. The bowlers though had to step up if they had to make the decision to bowl first count.

England pockets the first session:

Stuart Broad opening the bowling got David Warner for the 16th time. The left-hander departed in the very first over. Marnus Labuschagne appeared tentative but scored runs at a good clip. Usman Khawaja gave the impression of being tied up. Mark Wood delivered a cracker of a ball to dislodge his stumps.

Labuschagne and Steve Smith started to build a partnership but the number 3 batter soon poked at one off Chris Woakes. Smith too nicked one to the keeper. Australia was 85-4 at lunch. England bowlers bowled attacking lengths to remove the Aussie top order in the first session. It was out and out England’s session.

The Mitchell Marsh show:

There are very few hitters in world cricket who could smash the ball as hard as Mitchell Marsh does. Walking into bat at number 6 with Australia placed precariously, Marsh counter-attacked. He drove, cut, and pulled ferociously. Marsh notched up his third Test hundred (all 3 coming in the Ashes) to lift Australia to a strong position. He scored a run-a-ball 118 and was out just at the stroke of tea. At 240-5, Australia had work to do. But Marsh had worked his wonders in the second session!

The Australian collapse:

From 240-4 to 263 all out, Australia lost their last 6 wickets for a mere 23 runs. Mark Wood steaming in blew away the Aussie lower order. The tailenders had no answers to Wood’s thunderbolts. Pat Cummins a decent batter failed to bring down his bat in time to a Wood in zipper. The fast bowler picked up a well-deserved five-wicket haul. Chris Woakes picked up 3 and Broad picked 2. England was buzzing with confidence.

Australia gives England a taste of their own medicine:

Cummins as he so often does through his career picked up an early wicket. He removed the last Test’s key player, Ben Duckett. The Australian captain removed Harry Brook too. England at 22-2 was looking for stability. Zak Crawley and Joe Root played admirably scoring at a fair clip. But Crawley lost his wicket against the run of play. Marsh induced a false poke from the opener to remove England’s top three. Jonny Bairstow and Root then played out the remaining overs without further damage.

Who’s day, was it?

The day saw 331 runs, 13 wickets, hostile spells, and the crowd going bonkers. It was Test cricket of the highest quality. But the day well and truly belonged to men who made their comebacks. Woakes, Wood, and Marsh dominated the day’s proceedings. Each of them put in stellar performances to help their side gain the edge. The match is finely balanced at the end of day 1. This Test on the first day itself has shown so many emotions. We wonder what’s in store for the remainder of the Test!