Mitchell Marsh has celebrated his Check 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 its first collection win in England in 22 years.
Recalled to the aspect for the injured Cameron Inexperienced, Marsh has instantly given Australia’s selectors a critical headache along with his commanding innings in Leeds.
When he walked to the crease 4-85, England was rolling and Australia at actual danger of a collapse that may invite the hosts again into the Ashes.
However 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, which might be in a much better place if it had taken its possibilities behind the stumps.
Head ought to have been caught on eight when he hit a ball down legside by to Jonny Bairstow, just for the wicketkeeper’s nightmare collection behind the stumps to proceed.
England then had the prospect to take away Marsh on 12 when he provided 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 of the whereas, Marsh confirmed no sympathy.
As if making up for misplaced time, the 31-year-old bought off the mark with a traditional cowl drive off Stuart Broad and shortly after lunch pulled a Mark Wooden bouncer for six.
He went to 99 by whacking Moeen Ali again down the bottom for six, and pushed a fast single off the following ball to go to 3 figures.
Nevertheless the occasion 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.
Inexperienced is Australia’s younger star as an all-rounder, however selectors will now discover it very laborious to go away Marsh out for the fourth Check 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 Wooden 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 was in hassle, earlier than Marsh’s onslaught put the vacationers again on high.