Marsh, Wood shine bright on rollercoaster day

Headingley: This was a heady opening day at Headingley; a petrol-strength cocktail of fast bowling and fast scoring in an increasingly raucous atmosphere that saw 13 wickets fall and two late entrants into the series – Mark Wood and Mitchell Marsh – shine brightly.

Wood first, who missed England’s defeats in the first two Tests due to that rebellious body and looked keen to make up for lost time.

He hit a top speed of 96.5mph on the speed gun but, more crucially for the fate of this third instalment, claimed five for 34 as Australia, inserted at the toss by Stokes, were bowled out for 263 in 60.4 overs.

The tourists slightly squandered a superb fightback from Marsh who, four years on from his last Test outing in the 2019 Ashes, had crashed a run-a-ball 118 during a one-sided afternoon.

Dropped by Joe Root at slip on five, Marsh etched his name into Headingley’s all-rounder folklore with 17 fours and four particularly meaty sixes.

But once Chris Woakes, the bowler denied, continued a day for the comeback kids, Marsh edging to slip on the stroke of tea to defuse an increasing sense of English dread, Wood shut down the innings masterfully.

The last four of his lightning strikes came as the tourists lost six for 23 in 51 balls, Wood leading England off the field at the change of innings and beaming at what was his first five wicket-haul on home soil.

There was still work for England to do before the close and they did not emerge unscatched. In fact day two already looks pivotal to their hopes of ensuring the series is not lost at the earliest opportunity.

The hosts will resume on 69 for three, 195 runs in arrears, with Root unbeaten on 19 and Jonny Bairstow on one not out.

There were two wickets for Pat Cummins – Ben Duckett and Harry Brook falling for single figures – and though Zak Crawley appeared to be thriving on 33, that man Marsh could not be kept out of the contest and an edge flew to slip.

Brief scores: England 68 for 3 (Root 19*, Bairstow 1*) trail Australia 263 (Marsh 118, Wood 5-34) by 195 runs. (AP)