The 2023 Ashes series has been full of twists and turns, scattered with some controversy, but ultimately Australia appear to have a firm grip on the famous urn.
The tourists will take a 2-0 lead into the third Test at Headingley, although they are likely to have to deal with an intimidating atmosphere and an England team seeking revenge.
Australia were booed from the pitch at Lord’s with the home fans unhappy, in particular, with the dismissal of Jonny Bairstow during the final-day run chase.
They are likely to be handed a frosty reception from the Yorkshire crowd and that will see the intensity taken up even further, as England look to keep alive their Ashes hopes.
- England to win the Test
- Joe Root – Top Match Batter
- Test to finish on day five
England Expected To Pull One Back
With Australia ahead in the series, there has been a bit of negativity about the way England have played and how effective the ‘Bazball’ style can be against the world’s top Test teams.
But it’s worth remembering that the hosts lost the first Test by just two wickets and were unfortunate to go down by 43 runs in the second Test at Lord’s.
Throw into the mix Bairstow’s second-innings dismissal last week and there should be no extra incentive needed for Ben Stokes’ men to get back to winning ways.
The hosts head to Leeds with recent happy memories as well, with four consecutive wins in their last four Tests at Headingley – including the historic run chase against the Aussies in 2019.
On that occasion, the pitch improved as the match developed - Australia making just 179 in the first innings before skittling out England for 67.
Having set the hosts 358 to win, Ben Stokes set about smashing the Australian attack around the ground and his unbeaten 135 saw England home.
That run of victories in Yorkshire were against top Test nations as well, with consecutive Headingley successes over Pakistan (2018), Australia (2019), India (2021) and New Zealand (2022).
One thing that is worth noting is there is often a result in Leeds, with just one drawn match in the last 22 Tests and that stalemate was back in 2012.
Since that draw, against South Africa, England have won six of their nine five-day internationals at the ground and three of those victories have come by an innings.
Broad has 3 five-wicket hauls at Headingley
Joe Root Will Come Good
There will be several England stars playing on their home ground, with Jonny Bairstow, Harry Brook and Joe Root all Yorkshiremen set to feature.
Many feel former skipper Root will have to perform at his best to get England back in this series and he’s likely to have a key role in the third Test.
Root has two Test centuries and three half-centuries to his name at Headingley, with one of those tons coming in a crushing win over India in 2021, when he smashed 121 off 165 balls and helped England to an innings and 76-run victory.
The 32-year-old already has a century to his name in this series, after racking up three figures at Edgbaston, and another hundred would be his 31st in Test cricket.
With Ollie Pope ruled out of the remainder of the series due to a dislocated shoulder, Root could yet be moved up to bat at three. That said, England would probably be best served leaving him at four, where his record is much better, and promoting someone else to fill the Pope void.
But wherever he is asked to play, Root’s performance could have a significant impact on England’s hopes of getting back into the series and keeping their Ashes hopes alive.
He may also have a key role to play with the ball, with his part-time spin, if England feel that Moeen Ali is not fit enough to return to the side, having sat out the match at Lord’s.
Joe Root expected to be amongst the runs
Test Should Go The Distance
Both of the opening two Tests have gone the distance and there’s no reason to believe the third Test will be any different.
The weather forecast, on the whole, looks pretty good for the majority of the Headingley Test, except for Saturday when there is a risk of thundery showers in the Leeds area.
Any weather delays will only aid the prospect of the match going the allocated five days, with two evenly-matched sides slugging it out toe-to-toe.
Both bowling attacks will have good memories of the Headingley track following recent Test performances there.
There has been some speculation as to whether Brendon McCullum and the selectors may decide to tweak the bowling line-up.
One of those under the microscope is Ollie Robinson, but the Sussex paceman was player of the match on his last Test appearance at the ground.
Robinson, who started his career with Yorkshire, claimed figures of 7-31 across the two innings of the 2021 win over India and that display could play a role in him keeping his place.
James Anderson’s frustration in the first two Tests has been evident, with England’s all-time top wicket-taker claiming just three scalps to date this series.
But the Lancastrian didn’t play in the 2019 clash with Australia and also sat out last year’s seven-wicket win, so may be the one to drop out.
Meanwhile, Josh Hazlewood shone with the ball in that clash four years ago – taking five wickets in England’s first innings and four in the second.
Current skipper Pat Cummins claimed 3-23 in just nine overs in the first innings, as England were skittled for under 100.
