Ashes 2023 
ENG vs AUS, 3rd Test

Preview 

As the Ashes series reaches its pivotal third Test, Australia finds itself with a golden opportunity to bring the coveted urn back home after securing victories in the first two matches. However, amidst brilliant individual performances on the pitch, off-field issues have stolen some of the spotlight, with protests and verbal abuse overshadowing the action at Lord's. Now, all eyes turn to Headingley, where a high-stakes encounter promises to raise the temperature even further.

Under grey skies and floodlights, Ben Stokes won the toss and elected to put Australia in to bat, hoping to capitalise on favourable conditions for his bowling attack, led by James Anderson. However, the Aussie batsmen, spearheaded by the imperious Steve Smith, stood firm and reached 339-5 by the close of play, with Smith making a determined 85 on the first day.

After being bowled out for 416, England responded with 325 in their first innings, thanks to a commendable display by opener Ben Duckett. However, their middle-order faltered as the bottom six struggled to score more than 20 runs each in their respective innings. England's bowlers showed improvement in the second innings, dismissing Australia for 279 and setting themselves a challenging yet attainable target of 371 to level the series.

The third Test wasn't without controversy, as Jonny Bairstow's dismissal raised heated discussions. Alex Carey's sharp throw down the stumps caught Bairstow out of his crease before the umpire called the over, leading to debates surrounding the spirit of the game. Stokes fought valiantly with an impressive 155 off 214 balls, but his dismissal dashed England's hopes of a remarkable victory.

Throughout the series, individual brilliance has shone on both sides. For Australia, Steve Smith and Travis Head returned to form, amassing 187 runs between them in the first innings. Smith's century was his 32nd in Test cricket for Australia, placing him equal with former captain Steve Waugh and second only to Ricky Ponting.

Usman Khawaja also impressed in the second innings, securing his third half-century in the last four innings, setting a defendable total for Australia with just over a day to play. Meanwhile, England's batting lineup had its moments, but the team struggled to capitalise on opportunities, resulting in the high-pressure situation they face in the upcoming match.

The build-up to the third Test has been intense, fueled by controversial decisions and heightened emotions. Both teams seem to have abandoned niceties, with a newfound aggression expected on the field. England's squad will be reduced to 15 players, with the inclusion of Moeen Ali, who has recovered from a finger injury. However, they will miss Ollie Pope due to a shoulder injury, and Mark Wood might replace Anderson to inject more pace into the bowling attack.

In contrast, Australia will be without Nathan Lyon, ruled out due to a calf injury, opening the door for Todd Murphy to assume the spin duties. The workload of Josh Hazlewood may be managed, and the inclusion of Mitch Marsh could bolster the Aussie batting lineup in the latter stages.

As the Ashes caravan moves to Headingley, the atmosphere is expected to be electric, with passionate fans eager to witness another gripping chapter in cricket's most storied rivalry. Both teams are poised to leave it all on the field, vying for supremacy and the chance to lift the Ashes urn. With tensions running high, the third Test promises to be an unforgettable spectacle that cricket enthusiasts around the world won't want to miss.

Match Details

Match: ENG vs AUS, 3rd Test, The Ashes 2023

Date: Thursday, July 06, 2023 - Monday, July 10, 2023

Time: 3:30 PM

Venue: Headingley, Leeds

Pitch and Weather Report

Headingley Cricket Stadium in Leeds is renowned for its batting-friendly pitches and favourable conditions for pacers in the initial overs of an inning, benefiting from the bounce. However, as the game progresses, the pitch tends to become increasingly conducive to batting. On average, Test matches held at Headingley have seen a score of approximately 304 runs.

Based on the reports, the weather in Leeds will be sunny until Day 2, after which it will become partly cloudy with a significant chance of rain from Day 3 onwards. The temperature is expected to be around 27 degrees Celsius, with a humidity level of approximately 63%. The wind speed will be around 15 km/h.

ENG vs AUS Squads

ENG: Ben Stokes (capt), James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Dan Lawrence, Moeen Ali, Ollie Robinson, Joe Root, Josh Tongue, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood

AUS: Pat Cummins (capt), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitch Marsh, Todd Murphy, Michael Neser, Jimmy Pierson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, David Warner

ENG vs AUS Probable Playing XIs

ENG: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Dan Lawrence, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes, Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Ollie Robinson, Josh Tongue, Jimmy Anderson

AUS: D. Warner, U. Khawaja, M. Labuschagne, S. Smith, T. Head, C. Green, A. Carey (WK), P. Cummins (C), M. Starc, T. Murphy, S. Boland



Match Prediction

Although the world champions' abilities should not be underestimated, the absence of Nathan Lyon could significantly impact the latter stages of this match, as spin has historically played a crucial role at Headingley.

The thrilling events of the final day of the previous Test and the chaotic lead-up to this one might have worked in England's favour. The Headingley pitch is well-suited to players like Stokes and his teammates, and we might witness an exhilarating display of Bazball at its finest. Hence, we believe that England has a strong chance of securing a victory and keeping the series alive. 

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