TOP SPIN AT THE TEST: England get their first win over Australia in FOUR years

TOP SPIN AT THE TEST: England take their first victory over Australia in FOUR years as Harry Brook becomes fastest to reach 1,000 Test runs

  • England secured a thrilling three-wicket victory over Australia at Headingley
  • The win cut Australia’s lead in the Ashes series to 2–1 with two games remaining
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England kept the Ashes alive after a thrilling three-wicket victory over Australia at Headingley.

The day started 27-0 and still needing 224 runs to cut their series deficit to 2-1, the game ebbed and flowed again as every time the hosts looked comfortable the Aussies fought back .

When Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow were dismissed cheaply after lunch, England still needed 80 to win with only four wickets remaining, but an excellent 75 from Harry Brook and 32 not knocked out by Chris Woakes kept the ship steady.

However, the drama continued as Brook was out with 21 runs still needed, but player of the match Mark Wood batted down 16 from eight balls before Woakes scored the winning runs off a cheering Headingley.

BelowMail Sports LAWRENCE BOOTH delivers the big stats from day four.

England kept the Ashes alive with a thrilling three-wicket victory over Australia at Headingley

It was England's first victory over Australia since beating them at the Oval in 2019 (pictured)

It was England’s first victory over Australia since beating them at the Oval in 2019 (pictured)

This was England’s first victory over Australia since The Oval in 2019, since the Australians had won six Ashes games and drawn the others.

The result meant England went a step further in terms of results in this country, with 54 wins to Australia’s 53.

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Harry Brook went to 1,000 test runs in just his 10th test, and was the fastest in terms of balls to get there – 1,058, at which point his test hitting percentage was an astonishing 94.

This was the fifth goal of 250 or more England have knocked out in the fourth innings under Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes, but the first since last summer when they chased 277, 299 and 296 against New Zealand and 378 against India.

Mark Wood finished the test with a 250 stroke rate after hitting his fourth six of the game.

It was England’s 26th of the series – 14 of which have been hit by Ben Stokes – compared to Australia’s 21.

Harry Brook passed 1,000 test runs with his knock of 75 in the second innings, becoming the fastest in terms of balls he faced to reach that milestone in the process

Harry Brook passed 1,000 test runs with his knock of 75 in the second innings, becoming the fastest in terms of balls he faced to reach that milestone in the process

Mark Wood finished the test with an astonishing 250 pass rate as he hit four sixes

Mark Wood finished the test with an astonishing 250 pass rate as he hit four sixes

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