Denly adamant England can pull off comeback win against Australia

Joe Denly insisted England never lost faith in their ability to pull off what would be one of the most astounding wins in Ashes history after collapsing to 67 all out in the third Test against Australia at Headingley.

England's woeful total -- their lowest in Ashes cricket for 71 years -- appeared to have ended any hopes they had in this match of squaring the five-Test series at 1-1.

But come stumps on Saturday's third day they were 156-3 in their second innings, needing a further 203 runs to reach a target of 359.

England captain Joe Root was 75 not out after sharing a stand of 126 in 53 overs with Denly that rescued his team from yet more top-order embarrassment at 15-2.

"I still think we're in very good position," said Denly, caught behind after gloving a Josh Hazlewood bouncer.

Denly, the only England batsman to reach double figures in the first innings, with 12, added: "It's never ideal when you get bowled out for 67, it wasn't good enough and we had to show a bit of fight and a bit of character in the second innings."
"But we have Rooty and Stokesy (Ben Stokes is two not following his unbeaten 115 in the drawn second Test at Lord's) -- two world-class batters in."
- 'Learning' -
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"Playing against the swinging ball in different conditions -- and just learning my game and learning to put big runs on the board - definitely helped me and built my confidence as well."