Ashes 2019: England end on 156-3 chasing 359 v Australia, third Test day three – as it happened

England need another 203 runs to complete a Headingley miracle to go alongside 1981 and 2001. Australia need seven wickets to retgain the Ashes, and they are still huge favourites. The new ball is due after eight overs tomorrow, and their impeccable bowling in the last hour and a half - England were 22 for one from the last 21 overs - means they still have plenty of runs to play with.

72nd over: England 156-3 (Root 76, Stokes 2) The last over of the day. Root takes a single, which allows Lyon one last crack at Stokes. “Come on Gaz, take him with us Gaz!” drawls one of the players around the bat, apparently unaware that the batsmen leave the field at the close of play regardless.

Stokes defends very solidly and ends the day on 2 from 50 balls. Joe Root is 75 not out from 189 balls. In the context of the match, his form and his captaincy career, that’s an innings of rare mental strength. I think his 144 at Cardiff in 2015 will always be his greatest innings, but this might be his most admirable.

71st over: England 155-3 (Root 74, Stokes 2) Once more unto the Kirkstall Lane End for Pat Cummins, who could all but secure the Ashes by taking a late wicket here. He bowls a series of short balls to Stokes, one of which is given as a wide by Joel Wilson. We’ll hear more about that when England win by one wicket at 4.21pm tomorrow. That’s the only run from the over. Stokeswatch: 2 from 46 balls.

There was a nice incident off the last ball of the over. Stokes left a short ball from Cummins which didn’t miss the bat by much. Australia appealed, and Paine in particular seemed keen to review. As the DRS clock ticked down, he started talking to Stokes, trying to gauge whether he looked guilty or not. (Some players do – Joe Root has an awful poker face.) Stokes ignored him, and Australia decided not to review. It was all very playful and good-natured. I wonder if we’ll ever get to the stage where batsmen try to look guilty so that the opposition wastes a review. I digress. It’s been a long day. I thought I’d be finished by 3pm.

“Oh, the number of times I’ve been called Imogen,” laments Emma John.

70th over: England 154-3 (Root 74, Stokes 2) Labuschagne returns in place of Pattinson. Stokes gets an actual run, which takes him to 2 from 40 balls, strike-rate 5.00. I can’t be the only one who is ... stimulated by such statistics. There has been only one boundary in the last 19 overs, though England won’t mind that if they survive the last 10 minutes.

“As a Clarke, I’m in the habit of saying ‘Clarke, with an E’ when making telephone bookings,” says Damian Clarke. “Many years ago I arrived at a hotel to find they had no record of my reservation. As the hotel was full, I was left with a problem, but fortunately managed to find an alternative hotel down the road. The investigation into my later complaint to the original hotel discovered that they had a non-show on the day in question, a certain Mr. Clark Withany. I’m a bit more careful these days.”

69th over: England 151-3 (Root 73, Stokes 1) Lyon breaks the pattern by bowling a maiden to Root. It was another superb over, including a huge LBW appeal – from Lyon, anyway. It turned too much and would surely have missed leg stump.

“Having seen you in action on a night out,” says Alex Netherton, “it’s hard to believe a few bouncers haven’t aimed at your head in the past. HONK.”

Challenging them to see who can do the 9x table the quickest never did go down well.

68th over: England 151-3 (Root 73, Stokes 1) The game has been locked in a pattern for the last half an hour. Root gets a single early in the over, Stokes defends the remainder. He has 1 from 35 balls. England are 17 for one from the last 17 overs, which shows how masterfully Australia have bowled. They are just brilliant.

67th over: England 150-3 (Root 72, Stokes 1) Root drives England for a single to bring up the 150. This has been one of his best innings; certainly one of the mentally toughest, because he looked broken yesterday.

“Ten years and a day ago I was thrilled to get a mention for my work colleague Sebastian who was marrying Jules the next day,” says John Wyver. “Seb maintains - I think more than half-seriously - that an OBO nod was their best wedding present. Not sure Jules agrees. But since there’s not much going on at Headingley any chance of a tenth anniversary word?”

Well, why not. Happy anniversary!

66th over: England 149-3 (Root 71, Stokes 1) A sharp back-of-a-length delivery from Pattinson beats Root on the inside. He moves one the other way to find a thick edge from Root that scoots down to the shortish third man for a single, and Stokes defends the rest of the over: 1 from 28 balls now, a strike-rate of 3.57. It’s all strangely compelling.

“I think I can trump the submissions so far for misspellings of names,” says Peter Wood. “Many years ago I was working for an employment scheme for people with physical and learning difficulties. Part of the remit was contacting companies to see if they would take on someone. I rang a company, said I was Pete Wood from the Sheltered Placement Scheme and was put through to a bemused manager as Mr Pigwood from the Shoulder Replacement Scheme.”

65th over: England 148-3 (Root 70, Stokes 1) Lyon attacks, Stokes defends. He has 1 from 25 balls. There has been some high-class cricket today, and a lot of fight from England, but Australia are still huge favourites to win this match.

“So long as Marnus Labuschagne doesn’t start saying ‘What’s my name?’ after every boundary, in the manner of Muhammad Ali,” says Matt Kirkham.

64th over: England 147-3 (Root 69, Stokes 1) Pattinson replaces Hazlewood, who bowled an unreal old-ball spell of 7-4-3-1. Stokes continues to focus exclusively on defence. That makes sense given the situation, with only half an hour remaining, and there’s probably a bit of penance for his first-innings dismissal as well.

63rd over: England 146-3 (Root 68, Stokes 1) Lyon loves bowling to left-handers at the best of times, never mind on a bit of a dustbowl, so there is a spring in his step as he attacks Stokes. It’s a maiden, with Stokes looking solid in defence.

Thanks to all for this, the TMS link.

62nd over: England 146-3 (Root 68, Stokes 1) “Denly out because he used his hand to block a ball headed for his head,” says William. “If the cricketing authorities are serious about concussions, surely such an action should be permitted without penalty? Amend the rules so that if a fast delivery is aimed for the batsman’s head and it hits a glove, the ball is dead? Something. Anything. Right now the choice is between possible concussion or possible loss of wicket. Don’t put the batsmen in that sort of position when it comes to potential brain injury.”

Is it really a conscious choice? I thought he shaped to hook and then couldn’t drop the gloves because the bouncer was so well-directed. That said, I have never had an 85mph bouncer moving inexorably towards my noggin, so I’m no expert.

Does anyone have the overseas TMS link? We’ve had a few requests but I can’t find it.

61st over: England 145-3 (Root 68, Stokes 0) Root reverse-sweeps a boundary off Lyon, who looks entirely unimpressed. The rest of the over is excellent from Lyon, forcing a few uncomfortable defensive strokes from Root.

“My surname isn’t hard or unusual: Corrigan,” says Dominic Corrigan. “Years ago I moved house and called BT to register my new phone line. I told them my name, and was greeted with ‘Oh, how unusual, could you spell that for me?’ I spelled it out, letter by letter. They even repeated it back to me. A week later I received my letter from BT telling me my phone line was live. Addressed to ‘Mr Cogipal’. Labuschagne is easy.”

60th over: England 141-3 (Root 64, Stokes 0) Denly scrapped 155 balls for his 50. It was such an impressive innings, certainly his best for England, but in the end Hazlewood was too good. Australia’s bowling in the last 40 minutes, at a time when other teams would have surrendered to fatalism, has been awesome. The last nine overs have brought seven runs and the wicket of Denly.

It was a beautifully directed short ball from Hazlewood. Denly shaped to hook, realised he was in trouble and tried to get out of the way. But it was too late and he gloved the ball high in the air to Tim Paine.

A wicket was in the post - and the brilliant Josh Hazlewood has taken it!

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59th over: England 140-2 (Root 64, Denly 50) An extremely eventful maiden concludes with a run-out referral against Denly. He went down the track and drove the ball back at Lyon, who picked it and threw down the stumps, Roger Harper-style. Denly was safely home. This is glorious stuff.

Denly survives! It turned too much and was missing leg stump, so Australia lose a review. They have one remaining. The ball has really started to rag for Lyon.

58.4 overs: England 140-2 (Root 64, Denly 50) Denly survives a big LBW shout from Lyon. He has a long chat with Paine, who starts to signal for a review and then changes his mind. It’s the right decision, as it was missing leg stump. “You can feel something is about to happen,” says Ricky Ponting on Sky.

And now there is a review for LBW against Denly!

58th over: England 140-2 (Root 64, Denly 50) Hazlewood, who struggled slightly in England four years ago, has been majestic this time round. He slips a fantastic delivery past the outside edge of Root and follows it with a few words. Root holds the pose and beams down the pitch at the bowler.

The next ball is a carbon-copy, another snorter that is followed by a few impromptu observations regarding Root’s technique. Root smiles again, and then leaves the last ball of the over with a flourish. This is brilliant cricket. A maiden from Hazlewood, which means England have scored six runs from the last seven overs.

“Is another scandal brewing?” says Ian Copestake. “There may be more tearful press conferences to endure if the Aussie bowlers are indeed found to be DRS users.”

Responsible ones, too. And these men are fast bowlers! I’ve never known such deviance.

57th over: England 140-2 (Root 64, Denly 50) “In amongst the rubble of this Ashes series, I have to say I’ve quite enjoyed Alastair Cook’s work on TMS this series,” says Guy Hornsby. “He seems way more relaxed and pleasingly honest behind the mic than when he had it stuffed under his face chin or in the middle (the latter being less of a surprise, given many of his rearguards). It’s been a tiny sliver of pleasure amongst the carnage, and he compares really well to some of the self-appointed comedians or ‘personalities’ that we’re usually treated to. A second age of Cook we can all subscribe to.”

56th over: England 138-2 (Root 63, Denly 50) Australia are building pressure through dot balls. Denly ignores a couple of tempters outside off stump before being hit on the pad outside the line. There have been four runs from the last five overs. If you are an England fan, and if you close your eyes and concentrate hard enough, you might be able to hear the first strains of the Jaws theme.

“My first name is spelled ‘Brenden’,” says Brenden Fawkes. “I once had a boss claim this was an example of me being uppity for asking it to be changed from ‘Brendan’ on the roster. I feel you brother.”

The principle of people getting it wrong has never really bothered me. As with most things, the distressing part is the human contact.

55th over: England 138-2 (Root 62, Denly 50) Lyon is bowling the classical, aggressive Australian offspinner’s line, well wide of off stump. Root is hit on the pad by consecutive deliveries, both outside the line - and then he has a very lucky escape. He charged Lyon, a slightly flustered decision, and got an inside-edge that deflected onto the pad and then onto Paine’s shin. That could easily have been a stumping chance. A brilliant over from Lyon, the kind that scrambles a batsman’s mind.

54th over: England 137-2 (Root 61, Denly 50) Denly survives a big shout for LBW from Hazlewood. Paine looks quite keen to review but Hazlewood dissuades him, suggesting it was too high. He’s right. These brilliant Australian quicks are even responsible DRS users.

“G’day from sunny Scotland, Rob,” says Paul Jarvis. “As a schoolboy in Hobart I played against Tim Paine. From memory we got him out once, the other times he belted us around the Rokeby village green then left for training for the junior state squad.”

53rd over: England 137-2 (Root 61, Denly 50) Lyon returns in place of Cummins, and Denly drives him down the ground for a single to reach a fine half-century. With the exception of a few loose drives, his approach and shot-selection have been exemplary.

“Rob,” says John Starbuck. “Where are George Davis’s supporters when they’re needed?”

52nd over: England 135-2 (Root 60, Denly 49) “Geoff Lemon gives a clinic on how to pronounce Labuschagne’s name in the July 30th episode of the Guardian’s - or rather the wonderful Emma John’s - Spin podcast, from 27 mins onward,” says Michael Jenkins. “Apparently Marnus got bored quickly of correcting Aussies and instead succumbed to the inevitable Aussie Shanification of his last name. Geoff insists on using the correct pronunciation out of respect and because, well, it’s not that hard to get right.”

My surname has been mispronounced my whole life. You can’t win. If you point out the error, you’re an uppity pedant; if you don’t, you’re weak and guilty of truly despicable self-prejudice.

It was a good ball from Hazlewood, which jagged back sharply off the seam - but there was a big inside-edge and Root survives! That was a poor decision from Chris Gaffaney, who shakes his head when he realises the error.

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Root is given out LBW - but he reviews straight away.

51st over: England 134-2 (Root 59, Denly 49) A loose short ball from Cummins, well wide of off stump, is blasted through the covers for four by Joe Denly. The next ball is a beauty, in at the ribs, but Denly does well to roll his wrists and flick it wide of leg gully for four more. Hazlewood fielded the ball inside the boundary but his foot was touching the rope as he did so.

“Rob, I’ve thought of a game saving strategy,” says Kim Thonger. “Instruct our batsmen to just keep heading every ball. The Doctor will have to keep coming out for concussion checks, that should waste hours. Also, if anyone manages to head it hard enough to actually get concussed, there’s the added bonus of the time required to locate and pad up a like for like replacement. If we go hard with this approach I can’t see the Aussies bowling much more than twenty overs by close of play on Monday?”

You jest, but I bet Jardine would have sanctioned that approach if it meant beating Australia.

50th over: England 125-2 (Root 59, Denly 41) Hazlewood replaces Pattinson and gets a soupçon of inswing to Root. He walks straight down the track to Denly, presumably to tell him either a) it’s reversing or b) it isn’t reversing and that was orthodox swing. It’s a loosener-free return to the attack from Hazlewood, and Root defends the rest of the over. The WinViz predictor gives England a 30 per cent chance. I’d make it nearer 5 per cent, for whatever it’s worth. (Clue: nowt.)

49th over: England 124-2 (Root 59, Denly 41) Cummins is going to try some rough stuff. He has a long chat with Paine, after which fielders are placed at leg gully and short leg. Denly flicks a single wide of Head at leg gully; it was in the air but safe enough.

“Trust England,” says Mark Lloyd, “to start dangling the carrot of hope above the boiling soup of certain defeat...”

I’m not feeling the hope. I think yesterday deadened sufficiently that the England Test team will be unable to inspire any hope in me until at least November 2037.

48th over: England 121-2 (Root 57, Denly 40) A maiden from Pattinson to Denly, with just a leg-bye off the final delivery. Batting has been much more comfortable in the last 20 overs or so. Australia have retained control, however, which means they will not panic even if England are still two down when the second new ball becomes available after 80 overs.

47th over: England 120-2 (Root 57, Denly 40) The best thing about this Root innings has been the lack of memorable shots. It’s been nuggety and defiant, the kind of innings Allan Border used to play in the mid-1980s when Australia were rubbish. It might just be that he’s had enough; either way, a switch has gone off in his head in the last 24 hours.

“A heroic but futile 302 all out is going to be the worst kind of result here for England,” says Tanay Padhi. “It’ll paper over the cracks and spin up all kinds of misplaced optimism.”

Yes, that’s an excellent point. This has been admirable stuff, from Root in particular, but it doesn’t change the need to rip this team up and start again. (NB: OBO hack reserves the right to airbrush this out of history if Root makes a matchwinning 177 not out, followed by 271 at Old Trafford and an Ashes-clinching 166 at the Oval.)

46th over: England 119-2 (Root 57, Denly 39) “If Roy was still to come in,” says Ian Copestake, “his and our collective mood would be almost chipper.”

45th over: England 118-2 (Root 57, Denly 38) Pat Cummins, so good at taking a wicket when Australia need it most, returns to the attack. He is a rarity among bowlers - a flat-track bully - and England will surely just try to see him off rather than take any liberties. One from the over.

“Due to visitors I’m missing our cricket match today, the last one before the Brazilian National Championships in two weeks,” says Adam Hirst. “Carioca Cricket Club might not be the best cricket team in the world, or even in Brazil (and there’s only really four others…) but we reckon we could be the most cosmopolitan. We’ve got a flag count of 22 over the last few years, most of whom are still connected. Over the last few years we have had players from: India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Australia, New Zealand, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Wales, Palestine, Scotland, Brazil, Guyana, Singapore, Ireland, Syria, USA, Portugal, Canada, Bulgaria, France, Cyprus & England = 22 countries. Can anyone out there better that?”

Insert your own 1993 Ashes joke here.

44th over: England 117-2 (Root 57, Denly 37) This is a good spell for England. The crowd are making plenty of noise and the Aussies are starting to get frustrated. They won’t be worried yet but they are certainly irritated

44th over: England 117-2 (Root 57, Denly 37) Denly drives Pattinson sweetly through the covers for four to make it 12 runs from three balls, and a single off the next ball brings up a stirring hundred partnership. They get a standing ovation from the Headingley crowd, who have made quite a racket since tea.

43rd over: England 110-2 (Root 56, Denly 31) Root crunches Lyon through the covers for four to reach a superb half-century. He celebrates like Kevin the Teenager, head down as he points his bat to the crowd, but inside he will be hugely proud of the character he has shown. In context, this is one of the better innings of his Test career. He gets four more off the next ball, working a loose delivery to fine leg.

“Erm, Martin Millband’s time in the Netherlands has led him astray, because it was never a Dutch name,” says Jonah Sack. “It’s French originally, so ‘Labu-shane’ is defensible, and obviously what I’d go for if I had to live among the Aussies. But here in Marnus Labuschagne’s country of birth, Jon Blair is absolutely right - it’s ‘Labu-skugh-knee’.”

I want to hear how Kate Bush would sing it.

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42nd over: England 102-2 (Root 48, Denly 31) A storming delivery from Pattinson, full and seaming away, beats Root outside off stump. Australia have upped the intensity since the tea break; for all England’s faults, they are playing against a magnificent bowling attack.

41st over: England 101-2 (Root 47, Denly 31) A grubber from Lyon to Denly beats everyone and goes for four byes. Denly then drives a single to bring up the England hundred, and reach his highest score of the series. Both he and Root have played commendably. Root survives a big, and slightly absurd, LBW appeal later in the over; it hit him well outside the line of off stump.

40th over: England 95-2 (Root 46, Denly 30) Pattinson, back in the attack, has a huge shout for LBW against Root turned down by Chris Gaffaney. I thought there was an inside edge, and it might have been outside the line as well. Tim Paine decides not to review. Replays show it was pad first - but the contact was well outside off stump. An excellent over from Pattinson, though.

“Looks like batting gets a bit easier once the ball is twenty overs old,” says Felix Wood. “England had no way of knowing this. No fault can be attached to anyone in the first innings. Talking of fault, every session you’ve been doing OBO on England have prospered. These Aussie OBOers generally bring disaster. This feels like it might actually all be your fault.”

39th over: England 95-2 (Root 46, Denly 30) Lyon returns to the attack after tea. Root drives his first ball through the covers for four, aided by a misfield from Harris. It’s an excellent over from Lyon, though, and it looks like he has switched his line to well wide of off stump.

“I think that comment in the 37th over is slight hyperbole given some of the fast bowlers Australia have had,” says Tony Harlow. “True, Cummins wouldn’t disgrace any attack they ever picked, but he might have a bit to go to get past McGrath, Lillee (who appropriately autocorrected to killer!) Thommo and others I never saw like Davison and Spofforth. Not quibbling - he’s good - just reflecting they had some aces.”

Sorry, I meant at a particular point in time rather than an all-time XI. I do think he would get into any Australian team throughout history.

Labuschagne department

“As a Brit living in the Netherlands for 20 years I dispute Jon Blair’s analysis of the pronunciation of Labuschagne,” says Martin Millband. “The trick is to join the s to Labu and separate it from the ch. So Labus – ch (as in loch) – ag – (more or less the same as ch) – ne (I would say nuh rather than knee)

“Can’t we just call him Kid Charlemagne,” says Andrew Watson, “and get on to more important topics, such as whether Jofra should be captain, PM, or both?”

“This is what the man himself says (about how to pronounce his name),” says Josh Mandel, “although he’s really sitting on the fence.”

That was a fine effort from Root and Denly. They had to work hard and ride their luck; in other words, they had to do some proper Test-match batting. The pitch has eased a bit, but don’t get your hopes up - there is enough happening to suggest Australia will still win this game comfortably. Root and Denly have restored some pride, though. And they can vouch to their team-mates that, while Test match batting can be seriously hard work, it is also extremely rewarding.

38th over: England 90-2 (Root 41, Denly 30) Denly pads Labuschagne to short leg, where Wade takes a superb catch. But Australia are convinced it came off the glove and appeal unsuccessfully to Chris Gaffaney. Replays show it came off pad and then elbow. Denly survives, and that’s tea. Lyon and Root have words as they walk off, but it all looks good-humoured and Root puts his arm around Lyon’s shoulder.

37th over: England 89-2 (Root 40, Denly 30) Cummins gets one to burst from a length at Denly, who gloves it in the air and just in front of the man running towards leg gully. That was a brutish delivery from a sensational bowler who would get into any Australian attack in the history of the game. Denly does well to survive the rest of a furious over; it’s another maiden.

36th over: England 89-2 (Root 40, Denly 30) Labuschagne switches around the wicket to Root. Nothing much to report in that over.

“I feel sad about Hameed,” says Charles Miller. “He looked the real deal in India that time. Did he just never come back properly from that injury? Have Lancashire mismanaged him? What’s occurring?”

No idea. There are suggestions he’s lost his off stump, and there have been whispers about the influence of his father. I’ve no idea whether that’s fair or not. It’s a good time for a change, I think, and I’m sure there will be plenty of takers. He’s the most impressive young England batsman I’ve ever seen, so it’s hard to believe it’s come to this. And it is, as you say, very sad. But he’s only 22, so there’s no need to give up on him yet.

35th over: England 87-2 (Root 38, Denly 30) Tim Paine turns to Pat Cummins, who should have time for two overs before tea. It would be typical of him to rip out one of these batsmen in that time. He has a full over at Denly, who is happy to play for tea. A maiden.

Meanwhile, we have our perp. “Rob, you know it and I know it,” writes Gerard Aston. “This is on. Stokes to smite the winning runs!”

34th over: England 87-2 (Root 38, Denly 30) Denly, whose series of false starts has brought to mind Mark Ramprakash’s deceptively brilliant debut series in 1991, equals his highest score of the series by cutting Labuschagne for a single.

33rd over: England 82-2 (Root 35, Denly 28) “I must admit, batting is starting to look a little easier out there,” says Ricky Ponting on Sky. What a sensational commentator he is, by the way. Denly hooks Hazlewood confidently, albeit only for a single, and Root steals a couple of quick singles on the off side. This has been an admirably determined partnership from two players who, in different ways, are fighting for their future.

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32nd over: England 78-2 (Root 33, Denly 27) Marnus Labuschagne comes on to bowl some part-time legspin. With the series he’s had, it’s not a bad move from Tim Paine. A decent first over goes for three runs.

“What’s all this nonsense about the pronunciation of Labuschagne, and is he or someone else having a laugh by saying it is pronounced like Charlemagne?” says Jon Blair. “He’s from Klerksdorp for God’s sake not Queensland. As any red blooded Afrikaner will tell you, it is pronounced like this below, and any attempt to Frenchify it is just plain laughable:

• Lab - Lubb as in “land lubber”
• u - as in “ooh missus”
• sch - as in “school”
• a - as in “uh”
• g - as in “ch” when spoken by a Scot saying “loch”
• ne - as in “knee”.”

I noticed that Jonathan Trott pronounced it differently on Sky last night, and assumed he would know.

31st over: England 75-2 (Root 30, Denly 27) Root softens his hands to steer a boundary through the slips before smiling in response to the inevitable comment from the bowler Hazlewood. He’s in danger of having some fun out there. Denly thick edges four more to third man later in the over, which amuses Hazlewood not one jot.

“Dear Rob,” says Boris Starling. “There’s a great description of that afternoon (Holding vs Close) from none other than Lord Selvey of your parish, who of course had a ringside view.
“‘You have to understand the atmosphere during that game. It was a very hot summer and that day it was very oppressive. It wasn’t a blazing hot day, but it was steamy. There was a really heavy, over-burdening atmosphere by the time Saturday came around, with storms threatening. All day there had been this incessant noise from the crowd, cans banging. This rhythm going all day, all day. It started to get to you and I am pretty sure it got to the West Indies bowlers as well. It was mesmeric and quite threatening. You could feel it winding down into you, this noise, and they got carried away with it.’”

Selve was padded up as nightwatchman, which must have been quite a sight.