The raucous crowd at Headingley drove England to victory

If ever England needed a place and a ground to keep their Ashes hopes alive, then Headingley was always going to be it.

From the moment Ben Stokes decided to go against convention here and look down, rather than up, at the toss on Thursday and decide that he fancied another fourth-innings run chase in Leeds, it had geared up to this.

362 against Australia here in 2019. 296 last summer against New Zealand. Now the small matter of 251 but with the pressure of knowing that it was all or nothing.

All morning, every run was cheered like a boundary. Every landmark given a standing ovation.

They weren’t here to watch England win. They were here to take England to victory.

They were driven on by the Headingley crowd and in particular, those on the Western Terrace

The raucous England fans were with Ben Stokes and his side throughout the four days

Even the dismissal of Yorkshire’s own Joe Root could not dampen the mood before lunch.

The roar from the terrace as Stokes entered and then walked off with Harry Brook at the break, spoke of a ground that believed. Who wouldn’t with Stokes around?

With 98 runs needed, going into the afternoon session, and that pairing at the crease, it looked set to be another Ashes Sunday afternoon to savour in these parts.

After all, each of the previous six Tests here had been won by the team fielding first.

So when Starc, who once played for Yorkshire, got rid of Stokes and Jonny Bairstow in quick succession after lunch, they realised that it could be a different script this time around.

80 runs. Four wickets. Do or die.

‘Still easy peasy for us! In 2019 we needed 70 odd with one wicket left and we breezed it,’ uttered one man to an Australian couple, who had decided to take in the Western Terrace atmosphere after seeing it in 2019.

Easy peasy for one man in particular. The local boy, who for the next hour, seized the opportunity amid all the tension to finally make his mark in the series.

‘He’s one of our own,’ the terrace chanted endlessly.

When Brook was out with England still 21 runs shy, they rose to applaud him off and welcome Mark Wood into the cauldron.

‘Just the four sixes Woody boy,’ shouted a man dressed as a sailor. With one trademark hook, he calmed all the nerves.

Mark Wood held his nerve to write another epic chapter into the book at this famous ground

It was a Test match to remember and an afternoon to saviour for those lucky to be present

In this stand of madness, the resident Gareth Southgate lookalike was stood next to someone dressed as an Ashes urn as Chris Woakes hit the winning runs.

The Australian couple admitted that even in defeat, this was a truly joyous occasion.

So just like it was four years ago on that sunkissed Sunday in Leeds, this was never ever going to be a day of rest.

Another epic chapter written in the tapestry of this famous old ground. 1961, 1977, 1981, 2019 and now to 2023.

When the Ashes next returns to these shores in 2027, there will be no Test match at Headingley.

So in many ways, this was an afternoon and undoubtedly a week to cherish. You only really miss something when it’s gone.