Ashes 2023: First look of wicket at Headingley for 3rd Test surfaces online, image goes viral

The eagerly anticipated third Test of the Ashes 2023 will begin on July 06 at Headingley, Leeds as Australia look to win their first Ashes series in England since 2001. England have the last chance to make a comeback in the series and save the Ashes in the upcoming game. Ahead of the game, the first glimpse of the pitch at Headingley has surfaced on social media.

In the viral image, few groundsmen can be seen around the Headingley surface which has a tinge of green on top. The surface is different from the first two games where a flat track was prepared to aid England’s ‘Bazball’ style of play.

Here’s the Leeds surface about 24 hours before the game: pic.twitter.com/MM4UUIDIMT

— George Dobell (@GeorgeDobell1) July 5, 2023

Ahead of the series, England captain Ben Stokes had expressed his desire for fast and flat wickets for them with shorter boundaries to help them employ their aggressive style of play. However, the strategy didn’t go well with veteran English seamer James Anderson who criticised the pitches and said that it was like ‘kryptonite’ for him.

After getting no assistance from the pitch, England bowlers had to emulate Australia’s short ball ploy in the second innings of the second Test at Lord’s to bundle Australia out cheaply. Seeing the pitch prepared for the third Test, it seems as if England are frustrated after not getting any assistance from the surface and will make changes in their approach in the upcoming game.

The Ben Stokes-led side have announced their playing XI one day ahead of the game and have brought in Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes and Mark Wood in place of Ollie Pope, Josh Tongue and James Anderson. England will take inspiration from their Ashes 2019 campaign where they made a miraculous comeback in the series in the third Test at Headingley after being 0-1 down following the first two games.

On the other hand, Australia are expected to bring in Todd Murphy in place of the injured Nathan Lyon in the third Test as they aim for a historic Ashes series win in England.