BUMBLE AT THE TEST: Mark Wood is quick but don’t forget about Fred Trueman, Gareth Southgate chatting on Test Match Special was a real treat – and I can’t get enough of Ugly Mugs!
- England bowled Australia out for 263 before falling to 68-3 at Headingley
- Mark Wood picked up a five-wicket haul thanks to his lethal pace with the ball
- Follow Mail Sport on Threads here: https://www.threads.net/@mailsport
England and Australia played out an enthralling opening day of the third Ashes Test at Headingley on Thursday, as Ben Stokes‘ side bowled the tourists out for 263 before slumping to 68-3 at the close of play.
Mail Sport’s DAVID LLOYD watched on as momentum shifted in and out of England’s favour on day one, with Mark Wood picking up a five-wicket haul while Aussie all-rounder Mitchell Marsh smashed an impressive century.
From the Ugly Mugs café to Gareth Southgate on the radio, Bumble shares his thoughts after a ‘rock ‘n’ roll’ day of Test cricket.
Why I love Ugly Mugs
They don’t miss a trick in looking after the public here in Leeds, with the pubs around Headingley opening at eight o’clock in the morning.
For a hearty full English breakfast though, it’s Ugly Mugs for me. A proper caff that’s just outside the ground. You’ll see me there on a morning!
Winning the toss pays off
You know what they say at Headingley for the toss. Look up — don’t look down. And with plenty of cloud cover and the help of some proper pace in the excellent Mark Wood, it was brilliant to see England make the most out of winning the toss.
As my mate Michael Holding would say: ‘Pace makes you do funny things!’
It’s far from grim up north
Players will get full value for their shots here — the outfield has been properly cropped, it’s rock-hard and the ball will run away on it. That’s all because of the weather up north — it’s very hot in the Rhubarb Triangle.
If you’re ever short of a vacation, try Scarbados (Scarborough), Ponte Carlo (Pontefract), Cas Vegas (Castleford) or Barnselona (Barnsley). And if you really fancy it, go and spend a fortnight in Hull!
Superb Southgate makes waves on radio
What a wonderful interview with Gareth Southgate on Test Match Special.
What struck me was the closeness of the dressing room and the responsibility of him and his coaches to keep the players calm, knowing how responsible they are for the emotional levels of the spectators.
It was a fabulous interview about coaching young people at elite level and getting them working together, knowing what it means to represent their country. And Southgate even revealed that he has had meetings with Rob Key!
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Don’t forget Fred
Well, Wood’s first over was recorded on Sky as the fastest ever here at Headingley.
That’s absolute nonsense. They’ve obviously never seen Fred Trueman here. He would say he could bowl faster than Wood in a pair of wellingtons. He were like lightning!
I can hear Fred now: ‘If that Wood’s 95mph, I must have been 150mph!’
What a rock ‘n’ roll day’s play
This is what a Test match pitch should be like. It’s absolutely fantastic with something in it for both bowler and batsman.
What a counterpunch by Mitchell Marsh and ‘exhilarating’ is how I would describe Wood.
The bouncer in the morning that went over the batter, the keeper and bounced once before it hit the sightscreen was seriously Jeff Thomson-esque.
It was a day of real rock ‘n’ roll cricket.
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