What a day at Leeds

"Test Cricket is boring". That's what people say, "T20 is the way to go". They had not seen matches or days of cricket like today in Leeds. So far the Ashes had been going Australia's way with them winning the first test in Birmingham and then battling away for a draw. Then England went to Headingly knowing they had to win otherwise the Ashes were heading back to Australia. So England went in and on a wet day they decided to bowl first and England's new star Jofra Archer decided to make his bowling powers known and quickly became Anderson's heir apparent getting six wickets for 45 runs in 17 overs. As England bowled Australia out for 179 on a rain-affected day after Australia got to 136/2.

Buttler run out

 Then England went out to bat on Friday however despite the sunny conditions it looked like favourable bowling conditions as England were bowled out for 67 with Josh Hazelwood himself getting 5 wickets for 30 runs. Then England managed to bowl Australia out for 246, including going from 171/6 after stumps on Friday night. That left England chasing 359. They lowered the target to 203 after getting 156 runs but lost 3 wickets including Roy, Burns and Denly.

Hazlewood got Bairstow out

Root and Stokes went out looking to get the runs and lower the damage that Australia's bowlers could inflict. However, Root was out when Warner took a bizarre catch to make it 159-4. Then out came local boy, Jonny Bairstow and he decided to attack the ball and went well guiding England to lunch at 238-4 leaving England needing 121 runs. They then made another 7 runs but then Bairstow was caught at second slip and was out for 36 runs at 245-5. However, England fans saw Jos Buttler come out and had memories of the World Cup final fresh in their minds.

All the memories that were invoked were squashed when Buttler went for a single but Stokes said no and Travis Head threw the ball underarm and left for 106 runs to chase. Woakes came out and scored a single before he was caught. Then Jofra Archer came out and scored 15 runs in a defining partnership however he was caught and England were left at 286-8, even surviving a chance as the ball went over one of the fielders. Stuart Broad came in but only survived 2 balls as he was bowled out lbw despite calling for an umpire review and left England needing 73 off the final wicket.

Stokes celebrating the winning run

Then Stokes did the innings of his Test career.  He started with a big six. The plan then was for Stokes to score runs and make Leach at least survive one ball. In one over he then hit a reverse shot for 6 to make it 50 to win. In another, he hit a ramp shot over the keeper for a 6. He then got his century off a 4 to make it 33 runs to win. Australia tried hard to take the final wicket and had two appeals, both turned down. Australia did have a review left but they wasted it on the 1st appeal which was clearly not out and if they did on the second appeal the game was over as Stokes was out plumb LBW.

Stokes got the winning run after leach finally got off the mark scoring his only run in the innings. This made the Ashes level at 1-1 with two tests left. The next match is at Old Trafford in Manchester and if England wins either of the next two, and Australia don't the Ashes stays in England.

KRO Mark