England’s Arrival at Headingley 2023: A Need for Another Miraculous Performance

Ben Stokes Returns to the Site of His Ashes Triumph

Date: Thursday, 6 July
Time: 11:00 BST
Venue: Headingley
Coverage: Live text commentary and in-play video clips on the Sport News Center website & app, along with BBC Test Match Special on BBC Sounds and BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra. Daily Today at the Test highlights on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer from 19:00 BST.

Have you recovered yet? Probably not.

While the Ashes rivalry continues to intensify with a war of words, a crucial cricket match is on the verge of commencing, and England finds themselves at a point of no return.

Since the incident where Australia’s wicketkeeper Alex Carey caught Jonny Bairstow off guard and dismissed him with an under-arm throw, the atmosphere has been electric, adding to the sense of occasion.

Although the boos have ceased at Lord’s, the aftermath has seen England being labeled “cry babies,” while Australia has been accused of “tarnishing cricket forever.”

Neither accusation holds true, of course.

England has made three bold changes for the third Test, which promises an exciting encounter.

In a tense pre-match press conference on Wednesday, Australia’s captain, Pat Cummins, fielded a barrage of questions about the events at Lord’s. When asked if he regretted their actions, Cummins responded with a resolute “No.” When questioned if he would do it again, his answer was an unequivocal “Yes.”

Australia’s media manager attempted to steer the conversation forward but with little effect.

“Have you considered that withdrawing the appeal could have been a positive step for the game?” Cummins was asked earlier.

Cummins replied curtly, “I don’t think that’s the objective of playing cricket.” These Australians are unwavering.

And now, all eyes turn to Headingley, with its Western Terrace – a blend of a sports stand and a beer garden, ready to play its part in the Ashes drama of 2023.

The anticipation is so high that one can almost imagine England’s coach, Brendon McCullum, leading the fist pumps in front of his Yellow Wall at the end of day one, or witness a hooded figure, sporting a baseball cap and a megaphone, chanting “Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, cheat, cheat, cheat.”

Additional security measures have been put in place, as the hosts fear that things might take a sinister turn. Australia has requested extra protection for their families, following the distressing and unwarranted abuse they faced in the Long Room at Lord’s.

Joe Root, a Yorkshire native who knows the locals and the area well, called for sensibility.

“Support England,” he said. “It should never go beyond that.”

If this marks the beginning of England’s unprecedented comeback (remember, they have never come back from a 2-0 deficit to win the Ashes), then Headingley is the perfect starting point.

This hallowed ground, where the streets outside bear street art commemorating past miracles – ‘Stokes 135*’, ‘Leach 1*’, and ‘Botham 149*, Willis 8-43′ painted on walls – witnessed Stokes’ remarkable 135 not out in the 2019 Ashes Test, where he teamed up with Jack Leach to secure a breathtaking one-wicket victory.

Almost four years have passed since Stokes’ Headingley heroics. This week, there will likely be ten survivors from that match on the field – five Australians and five Englishmen. The current captains, who played out the final act of that Test, now lead their respective teams.

“I’ve probablyThe text has been edited to provide a rewritten version:

Title: England’s Arrival at Headingley 2023: Seeking Another Headingley Miracle

Ben Stokes Returns to the Site of His Memorable Ashes Triumph

Date: Thursday, 6 July
Time: 11:00 BST
Venue: Headingley
Coverage: Live text commentary and in-play video clips on the Sport News Center website & app, along with BBC Test Match Special on BBC Sounds and BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra. Daily Today at the Test highlights on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer from 19:00 BST.

Have you fully recovered? Probably not.

As the war of words intensifies in the Ashes series, a pivotal cricket match is about to begin, and England finds themselves at a critical juncture.

Since Australia’s wicketkeeper, Alex Carey, cleverly dismissed Jonny Bairstow with an under-arm throw, the atmosphere has become charged, adding to the significance of the occasion.

Although the boos at Lord’s have subsided, England has been unfairly labeled as “cry babies,” while Australia has been accused of “tarnishing cricket forever.”

Both accusations are far from accurate.

England has made three bold changes for the upcoming third Test, setting the stage for an enthralling encounter.

During a tense pre-match press conference on Wednesday, Australia’s captain, Pat Cummins, fielded a barrage of questions regarding the events at Lord’s. When asked if they regretted their actions, Cummins firmly responded with a “No.” And when questioned if they would do it again, the answer was a resounding “Yes.”

Australia’s media manager attempted to redirect the conversation but with little success.

“Have you considered that withdrawing the appeal could have positively impacted the game?” Cummins was earlier asked.

Cummins provided a succinct response, stating, “I don’t believe that is the objective of playing cricket.” These Australians are resolute in their stance.

Now, all attention turns to Headingley, with its Western Terrace—a blend of sports stand and beer garden—poised to play a significant role in the 2023 Ashes drama.

The anticipation is palpable, as one can almost envision England’s coach, Brendon McCullum, leading the fist pumps in front of his Yellow Wall at the end of day one, or witness a hooded figure, wearing a baseball cap and wielding a megaphone, chanting “Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, cheat, cheat, cheat.”

Enhanced security measures have been implemented by the hosts, fearing that events may take a darker turn. Australia has requested additional protection for their families following the disheartening and unnecessary abuse they endured in the Long Room at Lord’s.

Joe Root, a Yorkshire local who understands the area and its people better than most, emphasized the importance of sensibility.

“Support England,” he stated. “That should be the extent of it.”

If this marks the beginning of England’s unprecedented comeback (keep in mind, they have never recovered from a 2-0 deficit to win the Ashes), Headingley provides an ideal starting point.

This sacred ground, surrounded by streets adorned with street art commemorating past miracles—’Stokes 135*’, ‘Leach 1*’, and ‘Botham 149*, Willis 8-43′ splashed in vibrant paint—witnessed Stokes’ magnificent 135 not out in the 2019 Ashes Test, where he joined forces with Jack Leach to secure an exhilarating one-wicket victory.

Nearly four years have passed since Stokes’ heroics at Headingley. This week, ten survivors from that memorable match are expected to take the field—five Australians and five Englishmen. The current captains, who played the final actof that Test, now lead their respective teams.

“I’ve probably seen it about a thousand times in the last four years,” Cummins admitted.

“Whenever I walk through the changing room, the first thing that comes to mind is 2019. It was a tough but fantastic Test match. So, it’s a mix of emotions, I’d say.

“At the time, I remember thinking, ‘If I bowl it outside off, there might be a chance of getting a nick.'”

Instead, Stokes found the gap and hit it for four, keeping England’s Ashes hopes alive as they journeyed across the Pennines.

“I find myself talking about it a lot whenever I come here because it’s always brought up. We’ve had some incredible memories as a team,” Stokes reflected.

England needs those memories to ignite a resurgence, and for history to repeat itself this week, Stokes hopes his unconventional team selections will pay off.

Fielding a team comprising four specialist batters, a wicketkeeper at number six, and three all-rounders seems more reminiscent of the Trevor Bayliss era rather than Brendon McCullum’s.

After being sidelined for 16 months due to injury and subsequent exclusion from the team, the question looms: Is Chris Woakes still the dependable cricketer he once was—the go-to player, favored by moms, to be the best man?

On the other hand, Harry Brook showed glimpses of brilliance in his first ten Tests but has recently appeared more mortal. Despite getting starts in the series, he has failed to capitalize, and now finds himself batting at number three, a position he hasn’t held for his county since 2018.

England hopes that Australia’s composed yet unrelenting approach to this series has been unsettled.

Nathan Lyon last missed a Test match during Roy Hodgson’s tenure as England manager, with Brexit still a distant prospect. However, a torn calf now sees the bespectacled Todd Murphy, with only four Tests under his belt, taking Lyon’s place for the remainder of the series.

For England, the series, and this era of English men’s cricket, a favorable outcome is imperative this week.

If the Ashes are lost at the earliest opportunity, despite the stunning highs, the contributions of Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum to English cricket will undoubtedly be questioned.

On a broader scale, this summer was touted as the most significant in a generation—a chance to attract more viewers to the game. However, an Australian victory here would deflate those expectations by the second week of July.

Let’s be honest, regardless of the stresses, frustrations, or the mounting list of neglected responsibilities, we all crave a few more weeks of this captivating Ashes contest.

Stokes and Cummins Reflect on the Lord’s Controversy

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More about Ashes drama

• Ashes Series
• Headingley Cricket Ground
• Ben Stokes’ Ashes Heroics at Headingley
• Ashes Rivalry – England vs Australia
• Previous Ashes Matches and Results
• Chris Woakes’ Cricket Profile
• Harry Brook’s Cricket Profile