Mitch Marsh has celebrated his Test return by thundering a 102-ball century at Headingley, placing Australia again within the third Ashes conflict.
Marsh was out simply earlier than tea on day one in Leeds for 118, with Australia 5-240 and eying off a shot at their first collection win in England in 22 years.
Recalled to the facet for the injured Cameron Green, Marsh has instantly given Australia’s selectors a severe headache along with his commanding innings in Leeds.
When he walked to the crease 4-85, England had been rolling and Australia at actual threat of a collapse that might invite the hosts again into the Ashes.
But Marsh instantly took the sport away from them.
He hit 21 boundaries in his knock, driving with unbelievable energy and pulling three sixes excessive over the legside and belting one other one down the bottom.
Such was Marsh’s strike energy, the normally free-flowing Head was made to look as if his batting had come to a standstill along with his 39 not out.
The pair’s 155-run partnership could have include nice frustration for England, who could be in a much better place if that they had taken their possibilities behind the stumps.
Head ought to have been caught on eight when he hit a ball down legside by way of to Jonny Bairstow, just for the wicketkeeper’s nightmare collection behind the stumps to proceed.
England then had the possibility to take away Marsh on 12 when he supplied Joe Root a regulation probability at first slip off Chris Woakes.
It marked the thirteenth probability England have spilled on this collection.
Making issues worse for the hosts is that seamer Ollie Robinson has left the sphere with an obvious ankle damage, whereas captain Ben Stokes is but to bowl along with his problematic knee.
All the whereas, Marsh confirmed no sympathy.
As if making up for misplaced time, the 31-year-old received off the mark with a basic cowl drive off Stuart Broad and shortly after lunch pulled a Mark Wood bouncer for six.
He went to 99 by whacking Moeen Ali again down the bottom for six, and pushed a fast single off the subsequent ball to go to a few figures.
However the celebration ended when he inside-edged Woakes into his thigh pad and was caught at second slip on what was in the end the final ball earlier than tea.
Green is Australia’s younger star as an allrounder, however selectors will now discover it very onerous to go away Marsh out for the fourth Test at Manchester.
Marsh’s innings took on much more significance contemplating the way in which England bowled within the first session.
Broad had David Warner caught edging within the first over, and later nicked off Steve Smith for 22.
Usman Khawaja was clear bowled for 13 by Wood throughout a spell during which the England fast reached speeds of 155 km/h, whereas Woakes had Marnus Labuschagne edging on 21.
At that time Australia had been in bother, earlier than Marsh’s onslaught put them again on high.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
