Snapshot of day one of third Ashes Test at Headingley

ENGLAND v AUSTRALIA, Third Ashes Test, Headingley, Day One on Thursday.

SCORE: Australia (263) lead England (3-68) by 195 runs.

SUMMARY: England will walk away from day one the happier team but knowing they have missed an opportunity to take full control of the match. After two Stuart Broad wickets left Australia 4-85 just before lunch, Mitch Marsh took over with a domineering run-a-ball 118. Playing in his first Test in almost four years, 92 of Marsh’s runs came through boundaries as he crunched anything too full, short or wide. But when he was out just before tea Australia lost 6-23 to be dismissed for 263. Mark Wood was the main man for the hosts, taking 5-34 in what also doubled as his first Test back from an elbow complaint. Pat Cummins (2-28) struck twice early in England’s reply, before Marsh also bagged a late wicket to leave the match evenly poised.

PLAYER OF THE MOMENT: Mitch Marsh. Hasn’t been able to crack into Australia’s Test team since the end of the 2019 Ashes, with Cameron Green having a stranglehold on the allrounder role. But his blazing 118 on return may give selectors some headaches, with Green expected to overcome a hamstring injury to be available for the next Test at Manchester.

KEY MOMENT: England’s poor hands. Jonny Bairstow dropped Travis Head on eight and Joe Root put down Mitch Marsh on 12, both regulation chances. The pair combined for a 155-run partnership with Head finishing on 39 and Marsh 118.

STAT OF THE DAY: Mark Wood’s average speed of 145.62km/h was the fastest by a bowler on any day of Test cricket in England since Brett Lee throughout the 2005 Ashes series.

QUOTE OF THE DAY: “I think I’m the first man score a Test hundred on a UK holiday.” – Mitch Marsh sums up his century, after spending most of the tour as Cameron Green’s understudy.