England slammed for disgraceful act as Mitch Marsh rescues Aussies from dire day at Headingley

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Mitch Marsh has celebrated his Test return with a thunderous century at Headingley, before taking a late wicket to leave the third Ashes match in the balance after Day 1.

Called in for his first Test since the 2019 Ashes after Cameron Green pulled up sore from Lord’s, Marsh hit a-run-a-ball 118 in Australia’s 263 before England were 3-68 at stumps.

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Pat Cummins also took two early wickets for Australia, where all 13 wickets fell to quicks and England’s Mark Wood took 5-34 while bowling at speeds of up to 155km/h.

Australia faced a heated reception at Headingley, with the country’s national anthem booed by some sections of the crowd before play.

Sent in to bat, the Aussies were in early trouble at 4-85 in their innings before Marsh made a statement with his 102-ball century.

Mitchell Marsh celebrates his century with Travis Head on Day One of the third Test at Headingley. Credit: Getty Images

The West Australian set the tone when he cover-drove Stuart Broad (2-58) to get off the mark and later pulled Wood for six.

In front of a hostile crowd, Marsh hit 21 boundaries in his knock, driving with incredible power, pulling three sixes high over the legside and belting another one down the ground.

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Such was the 31-year-old’s strike power, the usually free-flowing Head was made to look slow look incredibly slow with his 39 from 74 balls.

Marsh went to 99 by whacking Moeen Ali back down the ground for six, and scurried through for a quick single off the next ball to go to reach his third Test century.

It was a different scenario for Aussie star Steve Smith who was out for 22 just before lunch after sending a soft edge to Jonny Bairstow off the bowling of Stuart Broad.

Smith was playing his 100th Test match and, as he entered the Headingley cauldron, he was widely booed by fans in what has been described as a horrible act.

The England fans were condemned for their behaviour on social media, and it obviously came on the back off the Poms calling out Australia for poor sportsmanship.

Steve Smith was jeered by some sections of the crowd while he left the field. Credit: Getty Images

Smith was also booed by some sections off the crowd while he left the field, and social media lit up.

President of the North Melbourne Football Club in the AFL, Sonja Hood, tweeted: “Listening to the crowd booing off one of the best cricketers of all time in his 100th Test and reminding myself that we’ve just endured a weeks’ worth of pious lectures on good sportsmanship from that country.”

And former Aussie cricketer Tom Moody tweeted: “Booing a player entering the field of play in their 100th test! #SpiritOfCricket …

“And that’s not a Law, it’s just showing respect for one another.”

While another fan wrote: “In case that wasn’t enough hypocrisy, the roaring cheers when Carey got clonked on the helmet backed it up for you..”

While another wrote: “Steve Smith 100th Test and the sooky Poms boo him on the field. Pathetic!!!”

And another simply wrote: “English crowds are worst in the world.”

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After play, unlikely hero Marsh said: “There are always times when you spend a lot of time away from the game where you think that you might not get back to Test level,”

“It’s taken a lot of hard work.

“I chose to have ankle surgery and miss last summer to get on this tour, knowing that I was going to be Greeny’s understudy. Really proud to be able to get back in this team.

“I feel a part of the squad even though I haven’t played a lot of Test cricket over the last couple of years. I feel very much part of it.

“It’s a credit to the leadership. That’s why we’ve had a lot of guys come in and contribute at different times and certain guys play unbelievably well.”

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The allrounder’s century will immediately pile pressure on selectors to keep him in the team, with Green expected to be fit overcome a minor hamstring strain for the next Test at Old Trafford.

Marsh and Head’s 155-run partnership would also have been of great frustration for the hosts, who had chances to remove Head on nine and Marsh on 12.

But as has been the problem for them all series, they were unable to hold onto the regulation chances with Jonny Bairstow and Joe Root the culprits this time.

Marsh was finally taken when he inside-edged a ball from Chris Woakes (3-73) onto his thigh pad that was caught at second slip, sparking a collapse of 6-23.

Wood was the chief destroyer, taking 4-4 in 14 balls to clean up the tail after earlier clean-bowling Usman Khawaja.

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But again England missed the chance to capitalise, when Cummins had Ben Duckett out trying to cut a ball close to his body and also nicked Harry Brook off.

Marsh then capped his day by claiming Zak Crawley’s edge on 33, before Root (19) and Bairstow (1) got through to the close not out for England.

“The game is pretty evenly poised, one or two wickets tomorrow and we’re right in it,” Marsh said.

The hosts must win this Test to stay in the Ashes. A draw for Australia will retain the urn and a victory secure their first series success in England since 2001.

– With Cameron Noakes