Mitchell Marsh was the unlikely hero for Australia on day one of the Headingley Ashes Test, smacking a blistering century and taking a crucial wicket to rescue the tourists on Thursday afternoon.

The West Australian, parachuted into the Test side as an injury replacement for incumbent all-rounder Cameron Green, blasted 118 (118) in a stunning counter-attack, guiding the Australians towards a respectable first-innings total of 263. It was his third Test century but his first outside of Australia.

England was 3-68 in response at stumps, still trailing by 195 runs, with Joe Root (19*) and Jonny Bairstow (1*) unbeaten in the middle.

MATCH CENTRE: Australia vs England, third Test scoreboard

Thirteen wickets fell on an eventful opening day in Leeds, with recalled England quick Mark Wood claiming his maiden five-wicket haul in Tests on home soil.

Australia was reeling at 4-85 in the morning session before Marsh and Travis Head combined for a 155-run partnership for the fifth wicket, reviving the innings with the assistance of a couple of sloppy dropped catches.

Marsh’s 102-ball century, which featured 17 boundaries and four sixes, was the fastest by an Australian cricketer in England since 1902 when the legendary Victor Trumper went on a rampage at Old Trafford.

“It was pretty amazing. I’m a little lost for words,” Marsh told BBC Sport at stumps.

“It was a crazy day. It was nice to be back wearing my baggy green and it was a long time coming.”

“Coming in before lunch today was some of the toughest conditions I have come in in my Test career so far,” he continued.

“I’m really proud of the work I have done mentally to overcome nerves and get into the contest as quickly as possible.”

Fastest Test centuries for Australia in England

95 balls — Victor Trumper vs ENG in Manchester, 19012

102 balls — Mitchell Marsh vs ENG in Leeds, 2023

105 balls — Clem Hill vs ENG in Sheffield, 102

106 balls — Travis Head vs IND in London, 2023

Wood, who finished with 5-34 from 11.4 overs, ripped through Australia’s tail in a frantic collapse of 6-23 after tea — no other Australian passed fifty in the first innings.

Pat Cummins made early inroads into England’s top order, with the Australian skipper claiming two wickets before stumps to ensure honours were shared ahead of day two.

After England captain Ben Stokes won the toss and elected to field first in overcast conditions, the Australians were greeted by a chorus of boos from the unforgiving Western Terrace as they emerged from the sheds. Both sides made three changes to their starting XI, with Scott Boland, Todd Murphy and Marsh earning a recall.

David Warner punched the first delivery down the ground for a boundary but only survived another four balls before falling victim to nemesis Stuart Broad for a 16th time in Tests. The veteran seamer found Warner’s outside edge, with Zak Crawley swallowing the chance at second slip.

Wood, playing his first red-ball match since December last year, sent shockwaves through the venue with a blistering first spell, repeatedly exceeding 150km/h. Moments before the drinks break, he knocked over Usman Khawaja for 13 with a vicious inswinger that kissed the inside edge before uprooting the leg stump.

Steve Smith received a hostile reception from the Leeds crowd as he walked out to bat in his 100th Test, and England wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow welcomed the Australian vice-captain to the crease with a gift. The Yorkshire gloveman put down a thick inside edge off Ollie Robinson’s bowling in the 19th over, granting Smith an early reprieve on 4.

However, Chris Woakes struck at the other end, with Marnus Labuschagne edging an outswinger towards Root at first slip and departing for 21.

England immediately targeted Travis Head with a short-ball strategy, and it almost worked when the South Australian tickled a riser from Wood down the leg side – except Bairstow put down yet another chance, with Head surviving on 8.

However, on the penultimate over of the morning session, Smith nicked a full delivery from Broad through to a relieved Bairstow – the New South Welshman unsuccessfully reviewed before reluctantly trudging off for 22.

After the lunch break, Marsh signalled his intent early by belligerently slapping Woakes over deep mid-wicket for six. Woakes returned serve a couple of deliveries later by finding the right-hander’s outside edge, but Root bottled a regulation chance at slip, gifting Marsh an extra life on 12 — and it proved costly.

In the 32nd over, Marsh survived a marginal LBW chance off Woakes, which England elected not to appeal – Hawkeye suggested the ball would have clipped leg stump. Soon after, the hosts called for an audacious review when Robinson’s delivery slapped into Marsh’s thigh guard and ballooned towards the slips cordon, but replays showed no contact with his bat.

Despite some nervy moments, Marsh continued playing his shots, feasting on anything short of a good length and smothering it square – including one glorious pull shot against Wood that sailed into the Western Terrace.

Marsh brought up his half-century in the 41st over, reaching the minor milestone in just 59 deliveries — it was unusual for Head to be playing second fiddle, but England’s bouncer barrage kept him quiet at the other end.

England’s afternoon went from bad to worse when Robinson left the field with a back spasm, failing to complete his 12th over and not returning for the rest of the day.

Marsh raced through the eighties and the nineties before bringing up his hundred in 102 balls — the beaming all-rounder removed his helmet and saluted the Leeds crowd, along with his ecstatic teammates.

“It has taken a lot of hard work,” Marsh continued.

“I feel part of the squad even though I haven’t played, and that’s a testament to our leadership. That’s why we have had a lot of guys come in and contribute at different times.

“I think I’m the first man to score a Test hundred on a UK holiday.”

The 31-year-old couldn’t survive until tea, with an inside edge against Woakes ricocheting off his thigh guard and lobbing towards Crawley at second slip.

Chants of “Stand up if you hate Carey” erupted when the Australian wicketkeeper walked out to bat, but the crowd was briefly silenced when Root dropped yet another chance at first slip, giving Carey a second life on 4.

But the former England captain redeemed himself the following delivery when Head edged behind and held onto a bobbling catch — Root chucked the ball into the ground in frustration as Head departed for 39.

Wood returned to the attack and cleaned up the tail, claiming the final four wickets in quick succession. Mitchell Starc was toppled by a brutal inswinger for 2 before Pat Cummins was trapped plumb LBW for a second-ball duck – the Australian captain didn’t get his bat anywhere near the ball, comprehensively beaten for pace.

Carey needed to undergo a concussion test after copping a bouncer to the helmet but departed the following delivery after slapping Wood towards deep cover for 8.

Wood secured his five-wicket haul when Murphy chopped on for 13, exhaling in relief and embracing his teammates after a stellar bowling performance.

“Leading into the game I felt I was in a really good rhythm. I was ready to go and chomping at the bit,” Wood told reporters at stumps.

“I haven’t done that well in this country so there were a few nerves flying around. I’ve felt for a while I have a point to prove here, all my good stuff has happened away from home, so to be able to finally do it here was a massive relief. That first spell in particular, that’s as good as I’ve felt at home in an England shirt.”

There was plenty of swing on offer when England’s innings got underway, and Cummins created the early breakthrough – England opener Ben Duckett flashed away from his body and Carey pouched a tough chance high to his left, requiring the services of his lips to complete the amusing catch.

Cummins struck again in his following over when Harry Brook, elevated to No. 3, prodded tentatively outside off stump and edged towards Smith at second slip for 2.

Despite the early double blow, Crawley and Root didn’t take their foot off the accelerator, scoring 53 runs from the opening ten overs in trademark ‘Bazball’ style. However, Marsh’s golden day continued when he broke the stand with his ninth delivery — a hopping outswinger kissed Crawley’s outside edge and carried to Warner at first slip.

Root and Bairstow survived a tense passage of play late in the evening session, ensuring there were no further English casualties before stumps.

“I’ve had a good day, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves, I’ve got to back it up,” Wood continued.

“This is a must-win game, and we’ve got to back it up in the second innings. But the outfield is rapid and rock hard. We’re gonna score quickly if the lads can get in tomorrow.”