Mark Wood takes five to blast Australia out, England three down at stumps in Headingley Ashes Test

A high-octane day of Test cricket saw England blow Australia away for 263, only for the tourists to reduce the home side to 68 for 3 at stumps on day one at Headingley.

After winning the toss, England captain Ben Stokes had no hesitation in asking Australia to bat first.

It did not look a good decision as Mitchell Marsh made a century at almost a run a ball, but his departure prompted a collapse in the face of searing pace from Mark Wood.

Australia rallied well with the ball to leave England 68 for 3 at stumps, with the third Ashes Test tantalisingly poised.

David Warner (4) played a confident drive down the ground first ball for four to open the innings, but he only lasted three more balls as he fell to Stuart Broad for the 16th time in his career – with Zak Crawley clasping a sharp chance at second slip.

Wood charged in and bowled like the wind, with one ball clocked at 96.5 mph taking him above Dale Steyn for the fastest delivery ever recorded at Headingley.

While Wood was operating at express pace, his lengths were a little too short. When he finally pitched one up, the speed and swing were too much for Usman Khawaja (13) who inside-edged onto his leg stump.

Marnus Laubschagne (21) has struggled to identify where his off stump is during this series, and that cost him again as he fenced at a ball from Chris Woakes that he had no need to play at and edged to Joe Root at first slip.

Steve Smith (22) started well in his 100th Test, but he had to depart following a review after feathering an inside edge to Jonny Bairstow – who had earlier handed a lifeline to Travis Head when shelling a routine chance – off Broad.

At 91 for 4 at lunch, the opening session was England’s and justified the decision to bowl first.

England’s fielding has not been out of the top drawer in the series so far, and Marsh – on 12 at the time – benefited from Root spilling a simple catch at first slip.

Marsh – who was only in the side due to Cameron Green picking up an injury – took the attack to England in the afternoon session, playing a series of glorious cuts, pulls and drives.

England had no answer as he brought up his century, his first outside of Australia, off 102 balls.

But just as he looked set to take the game away from England, Woakes found the inside edge of Marsh’s (112) bat and the ball looped to Crawley at second slip.

Two balls later, Root atoned to an extent by holding on to remove Head (39) – albeit it was not a clean catch and his hurling of the ball into the turf in frustration told its own story.

Head’s departure opened up an end for England to take a shot at the bowlers, and Stokes turned to the rocket-armed Wood.

Searing pace did for Mitchell Starc (2) who lost his leg stump, and it was a similar story for Pat Cummins who was trapped lbw without scoring.

Carey (8) was struck on the head by a fierce bouncer from Wood and one ball later chipped the ball to Woakes at cover.

Todd Murphy (13) flayed a couple of boundaries, but he chopped on off Wood as the England speedster picked up a five-for.

Australia capitulated from 240 for 4 one ball before tea to 263 all out in a pace-fuelled eight-over spell.

While Bairstow has struggled with the gloves, Carey has been excellent for Australia and he took a superb diving catch, high to his left, to remove Ben Duckett (2) off the bowling of Cummins.

Crawley (33) looked comfortable in the conditions, but he undid the good work by chasing a wide one from Marsh and edging to Warner at first slip.

Bairstow joined Root at the crease, and the Yorkshire duo took England to stumps three down.