Summary

  • England close on 68-3, trailing by 195 runs

  • Hosts reduce Australia to 85-4 before stunning Marsh century takes tourists to 240-5 at tea

  • But Australia then lose 6-23 to be dismissed for 263 as Wood takes superb 5-34

  • England drop four catches - Root & Bairstow two each

  • Robinson goes off mid-over in second session with a back spasm

  • Use audio icon at top of page to listen to live commentary from day one of the third Test at Headingley

  • Get Involved: #bbccricket, WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)

Live Reporting

Callum Matthews and Sam Drury

  1. Andy Zaltzman
    Cricket statistician on Test Match Special

    Answer: 171.

    According to the Cricinfo data, from the end of the Second World War to the start of the third millennium, 330 sixes were hit in 147 men's Ashes matches, at a rate of one for every 170.5 overs bowled.

    Since then, there have been 413 sixes in 62 Ashes Tests. Ben Stokes hit as many sixes in three balls to move from 82 to 100 at Lord's last Sunday, as were hit in the entire five-Test series in Australia in 1990-91.

  2. Right, time for today's ZaltzQuiz answer...

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    I think 85, working today selling flowers, but my heart and mind are at Headingly, making it 2-1 would really spice up the series

    Steve, Leamington Spa

    No idea of the answer but I do remember being at Old Trafford in 1997 to witness a collectors item. A Mike Atherton 6, which if memory serves me correctly was hit off a certain G.McGrath.

    Stew in Oldham

  4. Agree or disagree?

    Are Australians humble? England players play agree or disagree with Chris Hughes...

    Ashes 2023: England players play agree or disagree with Chris Hughes

  5. Get Involved - Daily ZaltzQuiz

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    Aside from the rarity of Stokes’ innings, I’m going with a six every 156 overs.

    Mayes, Surrey

    90 overs a day and you could easily go a day without a six. So I'm going with 225 overs. 1 roughly every 2.5 days.

    Andy in St Asaph

    There was still some big hitters and players looking to take on the occasional bowler so I think it will be around 65 overs per 6

    James, Rugby

  6. Matthew Henry
    BBC Sport at Headingley

    It’s surprisingly sedate at Headingley.

    The calm before the storm or have we all been overhyping the atmosphere?

  7. 'Welcome to my life' - Smith reaches 100 Tests

    Stephan Shemilt
    BBC Sport chief cricket writer

    When the Lord's crowd turned on Australia on Sunday, it was nothing new to Steve Smith.

    "I'm used to it when I go around this country," he tells BBC Sport. "I said to the boys at one stage 'welcome to my life'."

    Smith plays his 100th Test at Headingley this week, but was probably not expecting any sort of hospitality in Leeds, even before the Jonny Bairstow stumping controversy.

    For obvious, sandpaper-related reasons, Smith will always be persona non grata in England.

    There is, though, a parallel universe where Smith wears three lions on his chest rather than a baggy green cap on his head.

    More here.

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    Tim Callaghan: They’re still talking about an innings that happened 4 years ago. They didn’t even win that series. This is not a serious country. Stick to your memories. We’ll keep winning.

    I'm confused, do Australians not like to relive their famous victories?

  9. 'Ruthless' Australia have united English cricket

    Felix White
    BBC Tailenders

    So here we are.

    Only two Tests into an Ashes series and we are all already torn to shreds, in a state of sudden collective malfunction.

    It's hard to believe it was only two weeks ago in this very column I threw (completely non-ironically) to a series where altruism on behalf of our beloved Test cricket would take precedence over deep-seated rivalry this summer.

    That prophecy has had all the lumpen staying power of a maniacal film noir villain; turning up in Birmingham with a glazed, fixed smile, promising they come in peace, only to be ready to watch the world burn by London.

    Read more here.

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    I think it's a LOT higher than people think. I'm going 117 overs.

    Ned, Leicestershire

    My guess is a six every 90 overs. Come on England!

    Steve from Northumberland

    I'd go for a couple of sixes per match, so maybe one six every 158 overs?

    David in Amersham

    We'll have the answer for you at 10:25 BST!

  11. I have a new name for Bazball

    Glenn McGrath
    Ex-Australia bowler

    What a week.

    I want to start by saying Jonny Bairstow's controversial dismissal was not my favourite.

    I have been thinking about it a lot, reading all of the reaction, and it has had me in two minds.

    Originally I would have liked to have seen Australia captain Pat Cummins withdraw his appeal, after Alex Carey stumped Bairstow as the Englishman wandered out of his crease.

    But the more I think about it the more I think it was the right decision from Cummins. I think it is a sign of something deeper in England's mentality.

    Read Glenn's column in full here.

  12. Now that would be interesting! Big news for those England batters wanting to score runs through the gully region, too...

  13. Matthew Henry
    BBC Sport at Headingley

    Headingley

    The roadshow has moved on to Headingley.

    There’s a bit of speculation that Australia may leave out Cameron Green in favour of Mitchell Marsh today.

    Marsh is marking out his run, Green stood with his hands in his pockets. Interesting…

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    ZaltzQuiz: Surely it has to be high, I’m going 215.

    Harry, Leeds

    Zaltzquiz: I'm going with a 6 every 103 overs.

    Ben, Wimborne

    ZaltzQuiz: I don't remember seeing any sixes when I first got into cricket in the 90's so I'm going at least twice as rare at 1 every 96 overs

    Anon

  15. Headingley stirs as England seek another Ashes miracle

    Matthew Henry
    BBC Sport at Headingley

    Ben Stokes, Headingley 2019Getty Images

    It is just less than four years since Ben Stokes' Headingley Ashes epic.

    There will likely be 10 survivors on the field this week - five Australians and five English. The two men who now lead as captain were those who played out that Test's final act.

    "I find myself speaking about it a lot every time I come here because it always gets asked but yeah we've had some some pretty special memories here as a team," Stokes said.

    England need those memories to spark a revival and for a repeat to come off this week.

    Read more here.

  16. Speaking of going through finger nails, Mark...

    Headingley? With the Ashes on the line? We've been here before and it was a Test match many of us will never forget!

    'The most extraordinary innings ever played by an Englishman'

  17. Get Involved - Daily ZaltzQuiz

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    As sixes were a rare to be seen event prior to the 80s, I'm going to say 256 overs.

    Joshua

    Zaltzquiz: Thinking it must be over 200, let's go for 220.

    Jacob, from Aggers' birthplace of Macclesfield

    I have already gone though 4 finger nails this morning! Regarding quiz..74 overs per six.

    Mark from London

  18. England make bold changes for third Test

    Chris Woakes, Mark Wood, Moeen AliGetty Images/ BBC

    As has become the norm under the Stokes-McCullum regime, England have announced their XI ahead of the toss.

    Mark Wood, Chris Woakes and Moeen Ali come into the side to replace Ollie Pope, who is out for the series, and James Anderson and Josh Tongue, both of whom are rested.

    One if these days, I'd love to see England name a side a day or two out and then submit a completely different one at the toss...

    Read more here.

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    ZaltzQuiz: From the feel of the memory no more than one a day, maybe less. About 90?

    Mick, Yorks

    That brings Boycott into the equation. 100 overs.

    Graham, Hampshire

    It's 108....mate, almost as rare as an Aussie commentator accepting an umpires decision against their team!

    Rich in Brighton

  20. Dry day ahead...

    England need enough time for a result in each of the three remaining Tests and the good news for Ben Stokes' side is that the weather shouldn't prevent them from making a strong start today.

    The biggest chance of rain is in the first hour and even that looks unlikely. The rest of the game? Let's just hope the forecast for Saturday and Monday changes...

    Weather at Headingley