| Third men’s Ashes Test, Headingley (day four): |
| Australia 263 (Marsh 118; Wood 5-34) & 224 (Head 77; Broad 3-45, Woakes 3-68) |
| England 237 (Stokes 80; Cummins 6-91) & 257-4 (Brook 75, Woakes 32*; Starc 5-78) |
| England win by three wickets; Australia lead series 2-1 |
| Scorecard |
England kept their Ashes hopes alive by beating Australia by three wickets in another nerve-shredding Headingley finale.
Harry Brook hit a superb 75 but it was left to bowlers Chris Woakes and Mark Wood to drag the hosts over the line in pursuit of 251.
Brook’s mature knock took them to within 21 of victory, after talisman Ben Stokes fell for 13 following lunch with 90 still needed.
Brook put on 59 with Woakes before top-edging a cut off Mitchell Starc, who almost won the series for Australia with a vicious 5-78.
That wicket brought Wood to the crease amid gripping tension and he hit Pat Cummins for six and thrashed Starc for four to spark jubilant sin the stands.
With four needed, Wood was dropped by Australia wicketkeeper Alex Carey and Woakes, who finished unbeaten on 32, slashed the winning runs.
England’s makes the series 2-1 to Australia with two Tests to play, setting up a grandstand finale that could yet match the iconic contest in 2005.
There is a nine-day break before the fourth Test at Old Trafford starts on Wednesday, 19 July.
England keep the show rumbling on
After 1981 and 2019, 2023 can now be added to the list of Headingley Ashes epics.
It may not have reached the ultimate climax of Stokes and Jack Leach’s 11th-wicket partnership four years ago but it was still another another day of almost tortuous tension.
Every run was cheered and wickets were met with silence – apart from in the pockets of Australian green and gold in the stands.
Joe Root’s departure shortly before lunch and, crucially, Stokes soon afterwards threatened to give Australia the win that would seal their first Ashes series in England for 22 years.
But Brook, batting on his home ground in his first Ashes series, played the situation perfectly, only to fall with the finish line in sight.
He found a gritty partner in Woakes, who battled through the short-ball attack and played the anchor to Wood at the end.
The scenes of celebration were reminiscent of those four years ago – England getting their first win on the board after two tight Tests that could have gone either way.
They have to do what they have never done before – come from 2-0 down to win the Ashes – but, after three gripping Test matches, they have ensured the show rumbles on.
More to follow