Brilliant Brook keeps England’s Ashes dream alive in thriller against Australia

Yorkshireman Harry Brook hit a superb 75 on his home ground of Headingley to steer England to victory in the 3rd Test against Australia and keep the Ashes series alive.

The visitors now hold a 2-1 lead in the five-Test series, with the next match at Old Trafford starting on July 19.

It was another nail-biting climax on Sunday as England finally edged the game by three wickets as Chris Woakes and Mark Wood saw them over the line after Mitchell Starc had taken the attack to the hosts almost single-handedly, finishing with five for 78.

After being set a target of 251 runs to win after Australia's second innings, England started the day on 27 without loss, needing 224 more runs for victory.

But Ben Duckett was trapped LBW by Starc for 23 and Moeen Ali’s promotion to number three in place of Brook backfired as the all-rounder had his leg stump knocked over by Starc for just five runs.

Zak Crawley put together a measured 44 off 55 balls to take England to 93 before he swished at a wide ball to be caught by keeper Alex Carey off Starc.

Joe Root then went before lunch, caught behind by Carey off Pat Cummins before the key wicket of skipper Ben Stokes followed, caught by Carey off Starc for just 13.

Australia exploded in celebration as Stokes spun on his heels, for once passing the responsibility to others with 90 still to get.

Brook was still in place on 47, but Australia’s body language suggested they had delivered a killer blow.

Woakes gave them every impression they were on to something at the start of his stay, sending a thick edge high over gully and ballooning a bouncer just short of third man off the shoulder of the bat.

Then Jonny Bairstow managed to score just five before dragging a ball from Starc on to his stumps.

But