Normal services have resumed for England under the Bazball era after them winning a match following a couple of back-to-back losses. Even though the result in Leeds witnessed a new winner, the drama in the recently concluded third Test was quite similar to what what the case in the first two matches at Edgbaston and Lord’s respectively.
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Another prototypical see-saw contest between two top teams, it eventually witnessed an English victory after they managed to chase down a 251-run target in the second session on Day 4.
Returning to No. 5 in this innings, batter Harry Brook scored a fifth Test half-century in a winning cause. A game-changing knock saw the right-handed batter scoring 75 (93) with the help of nine fours in a crucial 59-run seventh-wicket partnership alongside all-rounder Chris Woakes (32*).
Readers must note that Brook will also remember this match for completing 1,000 runs in Test cricket. Having achieved the milestone in his 17th innings, the 24-year old player has become the one of the fastests to do so. In terms of balls faced, Brook is the fastest to reach 1,000 Test runs.
AUS vs ENG Man of the Match At Headingley
Having said that, Brook mis-timing a pull off Australia speedster Mitchell Starc with 21 more runs needed to win threw the onus on Woakes and fast bowler Mark Wood (16*). Having scored 24 (8) at a strike rate of 300 in the first innings, Wood hit a four and a six at a strike rate of 200 to seal victory without any further hiccup.
Although his 40 (16) across the two innings comprised two fours and four sixes, Wood primarily bagged the Man of the Match award for picking his fourth Test five-wicket haul in the first innings. Combined match bowling figures of 28.4-6-100-7 earned the 33-year old player such an accolade for the third time in his Test career.
Playing his first first-class match in more than six months, Wood expressed delight at being adjudged the Player of the Match for the first time in the last 42 months.
“Delighted to be here to stand as the Man of the Match. [Batting] Was tough against some of the best bowlers in the world. It’s the first time I’ve got England over the line with the bat. So, I’m delighted. I felt in good rhythm. Tried to run in as hard as I can. Stokesy [Ben Stokes] told me to bowl as fast as I could,” Wood told Sky Sports Cricket during the post-match presentation ceremony on Sunday.
