England made a positive start to the decisive third Test match at Headingley after removing the Australian top four in the morning session. Opting to bowl, England struck in the very first over and remained in control, picking three more key wickets on the opening morning.
Both sides made three changes to their playing XI from Lord's. England's were well documented as they had announced their XI prior to the game but Australia had two forced changes themselves as Cameron Green made way for Mitchell Marsh as a result of a strain and Todd Murphy replaced the injured Nathan Lyon as expected. In the fast bowling department, Scott Boland returned to the XI in place of Josh Hazlewood.
None of those players had a role to play though in the morning session. However, the two English players who returned to the XI for this game made an instant impression. After Stuart Broad removed David Warner again in the very first over of the game, Mark Wood cranked up the pace to trouble the opposition. Consistently bowling close to 95 mph, Wood reaped rewards with a delivery that came in an uprooted Usman Khawaja's leg stump.
Marnus Labuschagne responded in fine fashion with a neat drive for a boundary immediately after the wicket but Australia were cautious against Wood's fiery spell. At the other end, Ollie Robinson managed to find Steve Smith's inside edge but a diving Jonny Bairstow failed to hold onto the opportunity. England's disappointment didn't last long though as Chris Woakes squared up Labuschagne in the very next over to get the outside edge and put Australia under the pump again.
Travis Head, in typical fashion, tried to put England off by smashing two boundaries off his first five balls and Smith took on a short ball from Woakes in the following over to pull one over deep backward square for a six. Just before lunch, Ben Stokes brought back Broad and Wood for a short burst and the latter almost grabbed his second when Head edged one down leg. Bairstow unfortunately proved to be the culprit again as he grassed another opportunity. But once again, like it was the case with Labuschagne, England had little time to mourn the drop chance as Broad bagged the massive wicket of Smith in the final over before lunch as Australia's premier batter edged one behind to the 'keeper. And in his 100th Test, Smith also took a review alongside him back to the pavilion to cap off a terrific session for the home side.
