England in command of Third Test despite Travis Head counter-punch

A rain affected third day did not get underway until well after tea with Australia’s middle-order batsmen hoping to build a decisive lead.

After just six balls, the players were forced to leave the field again for a short break, but when they returned Chris Woakes, bowling in optimum conditions, quickly made inroads.

First inningd centurion Mitchell Marsh signaled his intent with a couple of crunching boundaries but Woakes removed the dangerman with a ball that he attempted to leave but succeeded only in gloving through to Jonny Bairstow.

Alex Carey made only five when he played on to Woakes and Australia were in a precarious position when Harry Brook took a fine running catch over his shoulder to get rid of Mitchell Starc, who had no answer to the pace and hostility of Mark Wood.

Pat Cummins followed shortly after as Wood snaffled his seventh wicket of his comeback Test to leave the tourists on 170-8 and with a lead of just under 200.

England bizarrely changed tactics at that point and attempted to bounce out Travis Head who rose to the challenge and helped add another 54 runs with the tail, following a Ben Stokes-esque counter-punch.

A return to line and length bowling saw Stuart Broad remove Todd Murphy and Head eventually holed out in the deep having made a potentially matchwinning 77.

England’s openers were forced to face five overs before the close and between them, Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett, managed to eat into the deficit.

The duo survived a couple of narrow escaped, but the 27 runs they added without loss could well prove vital as Headingley prepares itself for another potentially blockbuster Ashes finale.

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