The Ashes

Well this series has suddenly come alive. 

After a huge 251-run defeat at Edgbaston, which also cost them their best Test match bowler, England have got themselves right back into the contest at Lords.

With rain effectively taking two days from the match, the hosts almost pulled off a remarkable win on the final evening, the Australian's finishing 154-6 and having to answer their own questions ahead of the third Test at Headingley starting on Thursday.

The loss of 10 overs after rain on the fifth morning turned out to be crucial. England gave themselves 48 overs to bowl out their opposition, batting 48 themselves. 60 extra balls, with Jack Leach spitting the ball out of the rough may just have provided enough chances to take the wickets they were desperate for.

It's a pretty safe bet to say that Jofra Archer has had the most impactful debut in England since Kevin Pietersen in 2005. His match figures of 5-92 don't reflect the control and destructiveness his 90mph+ spells had on the Australian batting line-up, possibly the best since Steve Harmison's great spells that helped define the 2005 series.

Ben Stokes lead the England charge with the bat. 

The hosts are still one defeat away from losing the chance to regain the Ashes and a poor first innings in Leeds could seal this. It does seem that momentum has swung back to Joe Root's side though and the chance of a Steve Smith-less Australian batting line-up does look tempting for Broad & Co.

For England questions remain at the top of the order. Jason Roy and Joe Denly still haven't got themselves going and need to score at Leeds or risk being replaced. Despite biting the bullet and stepping up to bat at three, Root's average continues to fall - a problem he's been combating since the 2017/18 Ashes series in Australia.

Jofra Archer had a Test debut to remember.

Positively Ben Stokes has regained his form with a scintillating 115* that almost set-up the most unlikely of victories whilst Jos Buttler spent some valuable time at the crease and Johnny Bairstow found himself back in form with a first innings 52 and unbeaten 30 when attacking for the declaration.



Do we even need to look at the bowling? If England can manage Archer's workload he could be his adopted countries greatest ever all-format bowler, but lets hope he can replicate his Lords form in Leeds first.

The Australian camp will have similar worries to their opponents. The failure's of Cameron Bancroft and David Warner could see one or both replaced in Leeds by Marcus Harris, whilst Steve Smith - possibly the greatest Aussie batsman since Don Bradman - could still be affected by the concussion he received in the second Test.

Captain Tim Paine's form with the bat leaves much to be desired but it's unlikely he'll be replaced at any point during the series whilst Mark Wade made a century just three innings ago despite his single-digit scores at Lords.

One change to the pace trio is expected as the visiting camp look to keep their seam attack fresh, likely to be Siddle for Starc or Pattinson.

Predicted XI's for Headingley:

England: Burns; Roy; Root(C); Denly; Stokes; Buttler; Bairstow(WK); Woakes; Archer; Broad; Leach

Australia: Warner; Harris; Khawaja; Smith/Labuschagne; Head; Wade; Paine(C/WK); Cummins; Starc; Lyon; Hazlewood