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As it happenedended

Ashes 2019 LIVE: Result and reaction as Ben Stokes 135 completes miracle comeback over Australia

Follow LIVE reaction from an astonishing day of Test cricket

Callum Rice-Coates
Headingley
,Jonathan Liew
Sunday 25 August 2019 11:21 EDT
Comments
The Ashes in Numbers

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England's Ben Stokes defiantly took the game to Australia to save their Ashes hopes in the third Test at Headingley with one of the greatest innings ever seen.

Stokes pulled off a 76-run partnership with his final teammate, Jack Leach, hitting sixes for fun in a remarkable solo effort.

The series remains alive and goes to the fourth Test at Old Trafford all square. Follow LIVE reaction below.

Test preview:

When is the third Test?

The third Test takes place on 22-26 August.

What time does it start?

The toss takes place at 10:30am in Thursday, with play scheduled to get underway at 11am each day.

Where can I watch it?

Live coverage of each day’s play will be shown on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports The Ashes from 10am.

ENG 54-6

Hazlewood finishes an incredible morning for the visitors with an arrow straight ball at Buttler's stumps but he keeps it out. 

Advantage Australia.

Michael Jones23 August 2019 13:04

ENG 54-6

Here are the figures for the Australia bowlers:

Cummins: 7-4-14-1

Hazlewood: 11-2-26-3

Lyon: 1-0-2-0

Pattinson: 5-2-9-2

They've been fantastic and have put Australia in pole position to win this test and regain the Ashes.

Michael Jones23 August 2019 13:07

ENG 54-6

An unspoken factor in England's woes is the form of Joe Root. The captaincy weighs on him but there's really no other choice. 

Any one of this team could be dropped on form except for Stuart Broad and Jofra Archer. 

Root is England's only world class batsmen but repeatedly seeing the team you're leading fail must weigh on his mind. 

Michael Jones23 August 2019 13:10

That's not really surprising though is it? 

Michael Jones23 August 2019 13:17

I watched Sky Cricket's Kevin Pietersen documentary last night and it highlighted some of the magnificent innings he played for England.

We could use some of his genius now, too often recently England have collapsed in test match cricket. 

Much like with the One Day team, England need to overhaul the test squad. If anything to prove to the current members that they haven't been good enough for a while.

Michael Jones23 August 2019 13:23

The bowling has been really good but England's batting has been poor. Joe Root got a beauty, Jonny Bairstow can be forgiven as well.

But Roy, Denly and Stokes were all out driving, and Burns was out trying to hook Pat Cummins.

A little application goes a long way in test cricket. Where are the new Alastair Cooks, the new Paul Collingwoods? The batsmen that dig deep when it gets tough.

Michael Jones23 August 2019 13:27

At this stage of his career Sam Curran should be nowhere near the England test squad. He's a medium paced swing bowler who wouldn't displace Jimmy Anderson or Chris Woakes as a front line bowler.

Yet England's batting is so frail that Curran's batting rescues them when he's in the team and so he continues to be selected. 

If the selectors like his batting, put him in the team and let him bat. He can't do much worse than the current lot.

Michael Jones23 August 2019 13:32

Things will come to a head in the next test when Jimmy Anderson will likely be fit. Who does he replace in the team?

Archer? No chance

Woakes? That would weaken an already weak batting line up

Broad? He's been England's best bowler of the series

Leach? No front line spinner then

Do you leave him out? England's all time leading wicket taker, because the batting is too weak without a strong lower order?

Michael Jones23 August 2019 13:39

"Give us half an hour of aggression." - Michael Vaughan's words to Kevin Pietersen at the Oval on the final day in 2005.

That's my advice to Jos Buttler and Chris Woakes. Go aggressive, try to get close to Australia's total.

England are in a bad way, if they get out it can't get worse for them so go after it and hopefully it gets better.

Michael Jones23 August 2019 13:43

ENG 54-6

Lunch is over. Pat Cummins will start after the break, Chris Woakes is on strike.

Michael Jones23 August 2019 13:44

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