Australian players set for family holidays to bounce back from Headingley loss and secure the Ashes

Australia must replicate their rebound out of the heartbreak of Headingley in 2019 to seal their first Ashes triumph on English soil in 22 years.

England’s three-wicket victory in Leeds on Sunday has left the series back in the balance, with Australia still up 2-1 but the hosts back in the hunt.

Australia’s players will be given up to six days off to regroup out of Headingley, with several to break camp and enjoy a family holiday.

While some will return to training on Friday for an optional session, others will be given until Sunday before they return for the first full-squad practice at Manchester.

England’s win at Leeds was not as dramatic as Ben Stokes’ miracle of Headingley in 2019, but it again denied Australia the chance to retain the Ashes in three Tests.

The circumstances are not altogether different to 2019 either.

English skipper Ben Stokes played the innings of his life to seal victory at Headingley in 2019 

Marnus Labuschagne and the rest of the Aussies who played in 2019 were left to rue what could have been

Australia had eight days off after that match to regroup, before going to Manchester and winning by 185 runs to retain the urn.

While the tourists ultimately drew that series to keep the Ashes in their grasp, a win at Manchester this time around would seal their first series victory in England since Steve Waugh’s side’s 4-1 romp in 2001.

Australia will also arrive armed with the belief they can topple England, after letting slip strong positions in Leeds to hand control back to the hosts.

The tourists were 4-240 in their first innings after a 155-run partnership between Mitch Marsh and Travis Head, but collapsed to be all out for 263.

England were 7-142 in reply before Stokes hit the hosts back into the match, his 80 allowing them to reach 237.

Australia then ceded control on the second evening, with poor shots from Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne exposing their middle order in tough conditions on day three.

It was a sliding doors moment at Headingley in 2023, with Chris Woakes and Mark Wood holding on to keep England in the Ashes 

Aussie skipper Pat Cummins has much to consider over the next 10 days with spinner Nathan Lyon injured, opener David Warner out of form and Josh Hazlewood to slot back in

Ultimately, it was the first time in the series England won the key moments.

‘Mitch got us back in the game and Trav. Then we lost you know 6-20,’ captain Pat Cummins said.

‘The next day their tail put on a good partnership with Stokes.

‘Then, ahead of the game, batting on in sunlight on day two, (we) probably missed that opportunity – various opportunities; but another great Test match.’

England will treat the build up to Old Trafford the same as they did in 2019, with staff to tell players Headingley is now irrelevant as Stokes’ men fight to stay in the series.

‘I remember going to Manchester in 2019 and saying we had to park everything that happened at Headingley, all the noise around that game,’ Stokes said.

‘It will be the same in Manchester this time after another great game of cricket.

‘We’ve kept the series alive and we just have to park everything from this week, but also continue with the way we play.’