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

England kept the Ashes alive after a thrilling victory over Australia by three wickets at Headingley.

Beginning the day on 27-0 and still requiring 224 runs to reduce their deficit in the series to 2-1, the contest ebbed-and-flowed yet again as every time the hosts looked comfortable, the Aussies fought back.

When Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow were cheaply dismissed after lunch, England still required 80 to win with just four wickets left, but a superb 75 from Harry Brook and 32 not out by Chris Woakes steadied the ship.

The drama continued however when Brook was out with 21 runs still required, but player of the match Mark Wood bludgeoned 16 from eight balls before Woakes hit the winning runs at a jubilant Headingley.

Below, Mail Sport’s LAWRENCE BOOTH provides the big stats from the fourth day. 

It was England’s first win over Australia since they beat them at the Oval in 2019 (pictured)

This was England’s first win over Australia since The Oval in 2019, since when the Australians had won six Ashes matches and drawn the other. 

The result meant England inched ahead in terms of results in this country, with 54 wins to Australia’s 53.

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Harry Brook moved to 1,000 Test runs in only his 10th Test, and was the quickest in terms of balls faced to get there – 1,058, at which point his Test strike-rate was an astonishing 94.

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

Mark Wood finished the Test with a batting strike-rate of 250 after hitting his fourth six of the match. 

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

Harry Brook passed 1,000 Test runs with his second innings knock of 75 and in the process became the quickest in terms of balls faced to reach that milestone 

Mark Wood ended the Test with an astonishing strike rate of 250 as he thumped four sixes

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