England's three most famous and come-from-behind victories at Headingley

There's something magical that England produce at the Headingley ground at times. Though England have suffered some unforgettable losses in Leeds, the hosts have also scripted a few stunning wins. Out of the 77 Tests played by England at the venue, 34 have resulted in their victories.

But England have also lost 35 at the ground - more than they have won. And the Three Lions would not want it to be 36 in the third Test against India. Instead, they are in dire need of that 'magic' to storm back into the five-match series. Hence, there can be no better venue than captain Joe Root's home ground.

Wishing you a speedy recovery, @MAWood33! 🤞🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 #ENGvIND 🇮🇳

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) August 23, 2021

On the last two occasions in Headingley, Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes played defining roles with the bat when England needed the most. But unlike then, Root now remains shorn of most of his trusted lieutenants, including Stokes. Even then, can the hosts find the resolve and replicate one of those never-before-seen wins?

As England and India prepare for the Headingley battle, we take a look at the former's few of the best victories at the venue.

1981 Ashes - Ian Botham's first of the many heists in the series:

Ian Botham during his epic 149. (Credits: Twitter)

Australia scraped through to a four-wicket win at Trent Bridge, followed by a draw at Lord's in the second. But Ian Botham didn't deliver a piledriver of a performance until the two sides reached Leeds.

Botham might well and truly have inserted himself amongst the best all-rounders of that era by punishing Australia for enforcing the follow-on.

His six-wicket haul and a fifty were not enough as the visitors made England bat again after posting 401 and gaining a 207-run lead. However, Botham was immovable in the second innings, striking an unbeaten 149.

When the hosts still needed 72 to avoid an innings defeat with three wickets left, Chris Old and Graham Dilley stuck with the all-rounder to add just enough runs.

Though Terry Alderman finished with six scalps, Botham's memorable hundred set Australia 129 to win. With the ball, Botham did not terrorize as much. But Bob Willis demonized Australia with a stunning eight-wicket haul. Eventually, the tourists slid to a 18-run defeat.

It proved to be the second time in Australian and Test cricket's history that a team had lost after enforcing a follow-on. Botham's efforts would turn the series on its head, helping England win it by 3-1.

Ashes 2019 - The rise of Ben Stokes in Tests after scripting England's World Cup win:

England v Australia - 3rd Specsavers Ashes Test: Day Four

Steve Smith's haul of 774 runs, resulting in Australia retaining the urn for the first time in England since 2001 is a story for the ages. But Ben Stokes, the marauder, single-handedly denied Australia a win at Headingley - a triumph that would have felt even sweeter amid Smith's absence.

However, Stokes turned the tables on day four remarkably to leave Australia dazed.

Marnus Labuschagne, Tim Paine and David Warner were the only ones reaching double figures on an overcast day one. Joe Root inserted the tourists, only to see Jofra Archer's six-wicket haul skittle them for 179.

But Josh Hazlewood's fifer on a day earmarked for big runs saw England concede a 112-run lead. Stokes was notably amongst the England batsmen falling to an awful stroke.

However, the Kiwi-born cricketer was relentless with the ball, banging the ball short tirelessly. He took three wickets as Marnus Labuschagne top-scored again in Australia's second innings. It set England needing a record-chase of 359 with more than two days to go.

Root and Joe Denly restored order after the openers failed again. They lost only three wickets on day three, but still had a mountain to scale.

Root fell early on day four for 77; however, Stokes and Jonny Bairstow's stand of 86 shifted the pressure on Australia. Nevertheless, the tourists hit back and at 286-9 were barely away from the urn. The southpaw took matters into his hands and Paine, along with the keeper and captain's tactical errors, allowed him to reduce the deficit.

At the other end, Leach's one-run contribution and resistance deserved as much remembrance as Stokes' roar after hitting the winning boundary. Stokes' 135* kept the Ashes alive for England, who avoided a series loss by winning the final Test at the Oval.

2001 Ashes - Mark Butcher's career-best makes a mockery of a fourth-innings run-chase:

Mark Butcher. (Credits: Twitter)

Though Mark Butcher did not attain the heights he liked in Test cricket, he still averaged a decent 34.58 from 71 Tests. And Butcher's career-best of 173* undoubtedly deserves mention, catapulting England to a memorable win, albeit inconsequential, while chasing 315.

It also came against Australia's full-strength bowling attack, including Glenn McGrath and Brett Lee.

Australia put on an imposing first-innings total of 447, headlined by twin centuries from Ricky Ponting and Damien Martyn. After that, McGrath's seven wickets restricted England to 309 only as Alec Stewart top-scored with 76.

The visitors' yet another competitive batting display, spearheaded by Ponting's run-a-ball 72, set England 315 to win.

However, England's chase did not begin in the most desired manner. Mike Atherton and Marcus Trescothick perished within ten overs. Nevertheless, Butcher shouldered the burden remarkably with skipper Nasser Hussain to put the hosts on track.

Mark Ramprakash was the fourth and last wicket to fall, but the partnerships made Butcher's work smooth.

He completed the winning moment by running three runs off Warne and making light work of the run-chase. Butcher also earned the man of the series award amongst the English players for his 456 runs in five Tests.

But Australia recorded an emphatic 4-1 series victory. It remains their latest triumph on English soil to date.