Former England captain Michael Vaughan applauded the impact that Mark Wood had on the third Ashes Test at Headingley, Leeds. HE claimed seven wickets and scored useful runs down the order and was adjudged the player of the match after England’s three-wicket win. Mark Wood and Chris Woakes returned to the playing XI at the expense of James Anderson and Josh Tongue after the 43-run defeat at Lord’s. Wood did well in the first innings with his sheer pace which resulted in one of the fastest overs in cricket history as well.

Lauding Mark Wood, Vaughan wrote in his column for The Telegraph: “Mark Wood was a revelation at Headingley. He had the Aussies rattled — not just the tail, who he blew away, but also the top order. We saw that from the moment that he clean bowled Usman Khawaja for pace on the first day. What a brilliant performance on his return.”

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He further wrote: “Chris Woakes has shown once again what a good a cricketer he is in English conditions. We talk about the all round brilliance from Stokes — but Woakes, with his under-the-radar approach, is always someone you want with the Dukes ball. He always delivers here in England. Stuart Broad has been exceptional all series. I don’t think any of us thought he’d play all five Tests this series, but Broad just seems to be getting better and better — and he is keeping that hold over David Warner. I think he should play at Old Trafford. I don’t want to hear about him being rested.”

However, England played with five bowlers, including spinner Moeen Ali, since Stokes was not fit enough to bowl much after his heroics at Lord’s. Meanwhile, England made the huge call to drop James Anderson after a poor show across the first two Ashes Tests. The upcoming fourth Test is set to take place in his home ground of Old Trafford in Lancashire.

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Michael Vaughan concluded: “I’d play Wood, Woakes and Broad at Old Trafford. If Ollie Robinson isn’t fit, that leaves a big decision about the last seamer. Don’t just pick Jimmy Anderson just because it’s Jimmy Anderson at the Jimmy Anderson End. You can’t be sentimental in an Ashes series. England should only pick Anderson if they genuinely believe he’s a bigger threat than Josh Tongue, who bowled really well at Lord’s. With Tongue and Wood together, England could also go even further in their short-ball approach.”