England and Australia clashed on the third day of their high-stakes third Test at Headingley, Leeds, with the hosts fighting to save the match after following on. The visitors, batting first, posted 416 all out in their first innings, with Travis Head scoring a century (101) and Usman Khawaja adding 97. England, in response, were bowled out for 362 in their first innings, with Joe Root contributing 100 not out. Resuming their second innings at 73-4, England lost their remaining wickets for just 34 runs, setting Australia a target of 146 to win. At stumps, Australia were 44-1, with David Warner not out on 22 and Usman Khawaja on 19. The match is evenly poised, with both teams having a chance to win the series-deciding Test.
England Fight Back on Day 3 of 3rd Test Against Australia
England mounted a spirited fightback on day three of the third Test against Australia at Headingley. After being forced to follow-on, the hosts reached 109-3 at stumps, trailing by 228 runs. Joe Root, the England captain, top-scored with 49 not out, steering his team to a more competitive position.
Australia had earlier declared their second innings at 369-9, setting England a victory target of 337. Pat Cummins, the Australian captain, praised his bowlers’ efforts. “We bowled really well in long spells,” Cummins said. “To get them to follow-on was a great effort, but we know there’s still a lot of work to do.”
England’s innings began shakily, with both openers falling cheaply. Rory Burns was dismissed for 7, while Haseeb Hameed departed for 12. However, Root and Dawid Malan steadied the ship with a crucial partnership.
Malan, who scored 33, was eventually caught behind off the bowling of Mitchell Starc. Despite this setback, Root and Jonny Bairstow, who is not out on 22, have since rebuilt the innings. The pair will resume their partnership on day four, aiming to guide England to a historic victory.
The match remains delicately poised, with Australia still favourites but England sensing an opportunity. The final two days promise to be thrilling, as both teams battle for supremacy in the third Test.
Australia Batting Collapses After Strong Start in Third Test
England’s strong start to the third Test against Australia took a dramatic turn as the visitors collapsed from 147-2 to 206 all out on day three at Headingley. Australia’s fast bowlers, led by Pat Cummins, exploited helpful conditions to take eight wickets for just 59 runs.
Joe Root’s decision to bat first after winning the toss backfired as England’s top order failed to capitalise on a solid start. The skipper himself fell for 30, one of three wickets for Cummins, who finished with figures of 3-37.
Australia’s reply began positively, with David Warner and Marcus Harris putting on 50 for the first wicket. However, Stuart Broad struck twice in successive balls to remove both openers and bring England back into the contest.
At stumps, England were 12-1 in their second innings, trailing by 149 runs with nine wickets in hand. The hosts will be hoping to build a substantial lead on day four, with Root and Rory Burns at the crease.
The match hangs in the balance, with both teams having shown glimpses of dominance. The outcome will likely hinge on England’s ability to bat effectively in their second innings and Australia’s capacity to chase down a target if set.
England's Bowlers Strike Early on Day 3 of Ashes Clash
England’s bowlers made an early impact on day three of the third Ashes Test at Headingley. Stuart Broad removed David Warner for a duck in the second over of the day, trapping the Australian opener lbw. Mitchell Marsh followed shortly after, caught behind for 11 off the bowling of Ollie Robinson.
Australia reached 60-4 at lunch, still trailing England by 112 runs. Captain Pat Cummins and Steve Smith were the not-out batsmen, with the score at 60-4. Smith, who scored a century in the previous Test, will be crucial for Australia’s chances of setting a competitive target.
England’s bowlers maintained pressure throughout the morning session. Broad finished with figures of 2-12 off seven overs, while Robinson claimed 1-15. The hosts will be looking to take regular wickets to restrict Australia’s total.
The pitch at Headingley has offered assistance to both batters and bowlers so far. However, the surface is expected to flatten out as the match progresses. This could make batting easier in the latter stages of the day.
Australia’s lower order will need to contribute significantly to post a challenging total. The visitors have struggled with the bat in this series, with only three half-centuries scored in the first two Tests. Smith and Cummins will be key to turning this around.
Australia Lead by 123 Runs After Day 3 of Third Test
Australia dominated day three of the third Test against England at Headingley, extending their lead to 123 runs with seven wickets in hand. The tourists resumed on 106-3, building their innings to 346 all out, a lead of 24. England then crumbled to 34-5 in their second innings, with Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc wreaking havoc.
Cummins was the pick of the bowlers, claiming 3-12 from 13 overs, while Starc contributed with 2-13. England’s top order collapsed, with Joe Root, Dawid Malan, and Jonny Bairstow all falling cheaply. The hosts now face an uphill battle to save the match, trailing by 89 runs with only five wickets remaining.
Australia’s tailenders put up a strong resistance, with Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon adding 56 runs for the last wicket. Lyon, in particular, showed impressive batting skills, scoring 34 runs off 72 balls. England’s bowlers struggled to contain the Australian batsmen, with only Stuart Broad managing to take two wickets.
The match is far from over, but Australia holds a commanding position. The English batsmen will need to show great resilience if they are to overturn this deficit. The fourth day promises to be an exciting one, with Australia aiming to extend their lead and England fighting to stay in the game.
England's Middle Order Faces Early Test on Day 3 of Ashes
England’s middle order faces an early test on day three of the third Ashes Test at Headingley. The hosts resumed play at 137-2, trailing Australia by 110 runs. Joe Root and Dawid Malan are at the crease, with the former on 32 not out and the latter on 15 not out.
Australia’s bowlers made steady inroads on day two, with Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc each taking one wicket. Cummins removed Rory Burns for 21, while Starc dismissed Ollie Pope for 16. The Australian bowlers will look to build on their momentum when play resumes.
England’s middle order has been a cause for concern in recent matches. The team has struggled to convert starts into big innings, with several batsmen falling in the 20s and 30s. Root and Malan will need to anchor the innings and provide a platform for the lower order to accelerate the scoring.
Australia, meanwhile, will be looking to build on their first-innings total of 246. The team’s batsmen put up a strong resistance on day two, with Travis Head top-scoring with 81. The Australian bowlers will be eager to take advantage of England’s fragile middle order and gain a first-innings lead.
The weather forecast for day three is partly cloudy with a slight chance of rain. If play is interrupted, it could add another layer of complexity to England’s middle-order conundrum. The team will need to bat carefully and build a substantial lead to put pressure on Australia in the second innings.
As the third day of the 3rd Test between England and Australia drew to a close, the visitors found themselves in a precarious position at 127-5, still trailing England’s first innings total by 192 runs. Steve Smith’s resolute knock of 69 was the lone highlight for the tourists, with the hosts’ bowlers sharing the spoils. The match now hangs in the balance, with Australia facing an uphill battle to save the game on the final day. The series, currently level at 1-1, will be decided by the outcome of this thrilling encounter at Headingley.
