A defiant Pat Cummins insists Australia has not ceded momentum to England in the Ashes, despite missing the chance to secure the urn with a three-wicket defeat in a thrilling third Test.

England kept the series alive on Sunday by claiming the tense win at Headingley, chasing down 251 to deny Australia and an on-song Mitchell Starc.

Harry Brook was the hero for England with 75, before Chris Woakes and Mark Wood put on 21 for the eighth wicket to seal the match midway through day four.

The result leaves the series scoreline 2-1 in Australia’s favour, with two Tests to play at Old Trafford and The Oval on July 19 and 27 respectively.

Cummins was adamant Australia remained in control when asked if England had the momentum headed into the fourth Test in Manchester.

“No it’s not really shifted,” Cummins said.

“It’s 2-1. Every Test you start from fresh.”

Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc celebrate after taking the wicket of Harry Brook. Photo: AAP

‘Fantastic’ Starc breathes life into contest

In the latest thrilling chapter of this enthralling series, Starc threatened to bowl Australia to victory and its first series win in England since 2001 with 5-78.

“He was fantastic,” Cummins said.

“He’s just becoming more and more complete of a bowler every time he plays out here. As a captain, it’s a luxury to have a left-armer who’s in that control of his skill and pace.”

The left-armer first removed Ben Duckett and the elevated No.3 Moeen Ali to start the day, before breathing life back in the contest after lunch.

When England looked in control with 90 runs needed and six wickets in hand, Starc strangled its miracle man Ben Stokes down legside on 13, having him caught behind.

Two overs later, it was Jonny Bairstow who chopped on against Starc, as the English veteran’s underwhelming series continued.

Another 80 runs were required, with four wickets in hand.

Cummins hit the shoulder of the bat twice in one over, but both times the ball fell safely. Suddenly, the margin was down to 60. Then 40.

But as has been the case all series, there was another sting in the tail.

With 21 still required, it was Starc who struck again when Brook tried to upper-cut a short ball after being so composed all day.

The ball skied to Cummins, who held on to it with Starc bearing down on him and the pair colliding as they both went to claim the catch.

Australia was back in the match. But, for the first time this summer, the hosts were able to win the big moments.

Wood hooked Cummins for six to reduce the margin to 12, but then offered a chance with four to win when he top-edged the Australian quick towards fly slip.

Scott Boland should have been the man to run in and take the catch, but instead Alex Carey turned around and chased back.

The ball hit the ground and any hope of Australia’s own miracle of Headingley was up.

Woakes slashed the last ball of the 50th over for the winning four, finishing 32 not out himself in his first Test for almost 16 months.

‘Just the start,’ says Stokes

“If you look at the first two games in terms of how tight they were, getting over the line in another tight game can mentally help,” Stokes said.

“Because if you flip it round and we didn’t win this one and it’s tight again, you sort of think, ‘it’s just not meant to be’.

“Obviously we’re over the moon, but it’s just the start of what we know we need to do.”

For the Australians, they must now wait another 10 days to try to claim a drought-breaking series victory in England.

Questions after man enters Headingly

Security at England’s Test grounds has again been called into question after a man entered Headingley early on the morning of day four and began filming himself.

A man was spotted in the ground’s famed western terrace well before gates opened for what loomed as a crucial day in the Ashes Test, ground officials said.

Headingley was the scene of one of cricket’s most significant security beaches in 1975, when the final day of the Ashes Test had to be abandoned after protesters dug holes in the pitch and filled them with oil.

The integrity of Test wickets has also been a concern throughout this English summer, with Just Stop Oil protesters attempting to spray orange powder on the pitch at Lord’s last week.

A Yorkshire County Cricket Club spokesperson confirmed it was investigating the potential breach.

“CCTV evidence shows that an individual placed themselves in the Western Terrace after 7.15am this morning, while filming themselves,” a club spokesperson said in a statement on Sunday.

“Enquiries are ongoing into this incident and our priority is to understand what happened and ensure it does not happen again.

“The safety and wellbeing of fans, players and staff in attendance and across this Test is paramount.”

Extra security was on hand at Headingley to help protect the pitch from potential protesters.

Australia has also asked for increased security for players’ families, after they were subjected to prolonged abuse on day five at Lord’s.

-AAP