Chris Woakes hopes England can complete ‘easier’ Headingley win to keep Ashes alive
hris Woakes had backed England to rediscover their chasing mojo in the must-win Third Ashes Test at Headingley – but hopes victory comes in less dramatic fashion than in 2019.
England reached the close of a rain-affected third day on 27 without loss, chasing a target of 251 for the win that would keep the series alive heading into the Fourth Test at Old Trafford.
It was on this ground four years ago that Ben Stokes produced one of the all-time great Test innings to lead England to a one-wicket victory in a nail-biting finish.
“It would be nice to do it a little bit easier,” Woakes said. “There’s a full day ahead of us tomorrow, we know what we’ve got to get.
“We know we’ve got to come and bat well, the scores in this game haven’t been high so we know it’s probably not going to be straightforward. Hopefully we can put some pressure on the Aussie bowlers and we know it’s a high scoring ground.”
England won four matches in a row chasing at the start of the Bazball era last summer, but have lost the last two matches in which they have batted last, by one run against New Zealand in Wellington and by 43 despite another Stokes epic at Lord’s last weekend.
“We know we can chase scores as a team,” Woakes added. “It certainly suits us which is a good thing. The scores haven’t been overly high in this game so you don’t just walk into it thinking it’s going to be a doddle.
“Naturally in a run chase there’s always nerves around. But they are good nerves. The thought of winning the Test, chasing down a score, and keeping yourself in the series.
“The chance to win a game always fills this team with excitement and we’re always looking to win, not just Tests, but moments within a Test.”
