With so much ill-feeling swirling around before this pivotal third Ashes Test, perhaps it was to be expected that new faces and clear minds would dominate the opening day. It was a heady old affair at Headingley too; a petrol-strength cocktail of fast bowling and fast scoring that saw 13 wickets fall and the pendulum swing throughout.
By stumps, Australia were just about in the ascendancy and with Mitchell Marsh to thank for it. Entering a match dominated in its buildup by events at Lord’s last Sunday – Alex Carey’s stumping of Jonny Bairstow et al – the all-rounder crunched a run-a-ball 118 in his side’s 263 all out and then helped reduce England to 68 for three in reply.
