BUMBLE AT THE TEST: Moeen is a gem and England quicks need more rest

BUMBLE AT THE TEST: Moeen Ali is a gem of a bloke, the England quicks need more rest – and Glenn McGrath… give us a bit of the mongrel!

• England battled to keep their Ashes hopes alive on day two of the third Test
• LIVE: Follow Mail Sport’s over-by-over coverage of the third Ashes Test
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Ben Stokes’ latest act of defiance and a spirited performance from England’s bowlers left everything up for grabs after two days of the third Ashes Test.

Just five days after scoring a brilliant 155 in a losing cause at Lord’s, Stokes once again dug deep to give his side hope with a muscular 80 at Headingley.

Despite batting through clear physical pain he pulled the trigger on five sixes and six boundaries, dragging England back from 87 for five to post 237 all out during a frantic afternoon session.

That kept the first-innings deficit to a manageable 26, with a dicey display from Australia’s top order leaving the tourists 116 for four at stumps for a lead of 142.

Mail Sport’s DAVID LLOYD takes you through Friday’s action at Headingley.

Dismissals of Yorkshire pair Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow disappointed the Headingley crowd

But evening wickets helped hand England a fighting chance of winning the crucial third Test

DO THE BASICS, THEN RISK

With this English brand of cricket, is it risk and reward or is it just high risk? 

The dismissals of the two Yorkies early morning was disappointing on a beautiful day that began with such high expectations. 

Regardless of risk-taking, England are just not doing the basics. 

So many mistakes in catching, in dismissals and in shot selection. They are beating themselves.

SKYRACK PUB KEPT ME BUSY 

When I was a young cricketer at Lancashire in the late Sixties, we would have to work in the winter and my employment was loading beer wagons at the brewery. 

It was proper hard graft! 

The biggest order would come from the Skyrack pub in Leeds, which is just behind the ground at Headingley. 

Not surprisingly, they are very thirsty up here…

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GLENN’S OFF-FIELD MISCHIEF 

Was listening to the wireless in the morning and the discussion between Alastair Cook and Glenn McGrath was excellent. 

Understated, slightly laconic, very perceptive and with a hint of mischief. Remember, there are two McGrath’s. 

The one on the field and the nice fella off it. He’s pitched on TMS as the nice Australian. 

Come on Glenn, give us a bit of the mongrel!

Glenn McGrath, one of Australia’s greatest ever bowlers, is known for having a hint of mischief

WHERE ARE THE SLIPS? 

Modern fielding positions are the work of the team analyst. 

Chris Woakes came in at eight and there were no slips but two fielders behind the wicketkeeper, almost as backstops as Australia peppered him with the short stuff. 

Remember the days of welcoming batters with slips?

FANCY DRESS MAYHEM 

It’s fancy-dress day today and I can’t wait. 

Last year, I passed a bus stop and we had two ducks, Elvis Presley and a piano trying to get on a bus outside the ground. 

It takes me back to 1997 when the pantomime horse was tackled by the old-fashioned rugby stewards here and knocked unconscious. 

I remember because I was England coach at the time!

QUICKS NEED MORE REST 

Ben Stokes with his heroics once again at Headingley to give England a fighting chance. What a player. 

But the evening session showed that the England quicks just aren’t getting enough rest because of the way they bat. 

Wood did not have enough time to recover, and the pace was down by his standards.

England’s Moeen Ali has 200 Test wickets and needs just 49 more to reach 3,000 Test runs

MAGIC MOEEN IS A GEM 

A word for Moeen Ali. 

Now part of a special group to take 200 Test wickets for England. And he’s closing in on 3,000 Test runs too. 

How fitting would it be if he can get the remaining 49 in the run chase here at Headingley? He’s an elite player and a gem of a bloke.

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