For a cricketer so often shorn of the limelight, the opening day of this fourth Ashes Test at Emirates Old Trafford was one hell of a moment for Chris Woakes to set himself apart.

Stuart Broad became only the second seamer to make it to 600 Test wickets, following James Anderson who returned to the XI for what could well be his last appearance on his home ground. But it was Woakes, with 4 for 52 to give England a foothold in this match, who stole the show. Australia’s 299 for 8 means neither team can say with any real confidence that they are in control– a recurring theme throughout this compelling series. But Woakes’ performance ensured Australia were never allowed to get too far ahead.

Coming into this match on 598 career dismissals, Broad trapped Usman Khawaja lbw before bouncing out Travis Head five balls after tea to reach his milestone. His 18 dismissals this series have seen him emerge as the banker in a constantly tweaked attack – he is the only England bowler to have been selected in all four matches – covering for the fact that Anderson has struggled, with just three wickets so far. That the 40-year-old was without success today was merely down to luck, beating the bat numerous times, along with the odd inside edge that evaded stumps. Nevertheless, his current series average is an eye-watering 89.66.

Woakes’s display, however, held everything together. Having made a strong impression in last week’s victory at Headingley to cut down Australia’s lead to 2-1, the Warwickshire allrounder took over as leader of the attack. David Warner, off the back of an engaging start, was snicked off for 32, before Woakes ensured the enginge room of Mitchell Marsh, Cameron Green and Alex Carey had false starts.

Indeed it was the wicket of Marsh which felt most crucial. Having reached 51, the Western Australian was squared up for an edge which was brilliantly taken by Jonny Bairstow. The wicketkeeper, who had an untidy day behind the stumps, stuck out a right hand after veering to his left, pouching the ball at full-stretch. It was the first time Marsh has passed fifty against England and not made it to three figures, having done so for a third time in the third Test.

That Ben Stokes won a fifth toss of the summer was one thing, but upon choosing to bowl, he followed up seduction of luck with a flirtatious wink at history. No side has ever called correctly, stuck the opposition in and finished on the winning side in an Ashes Test at Old Trafford.

Having spoken before the match of the need for his side to go hell for leather over the next five days given a woeful weather forecast, Stokes will be happy they have made as many inroads as they have on an uninterrupted opening day of 83 overs. And while they can credit themselves for keeping Australia in check, the tourist will reflect on opportunities spurned to control this match from the get-go.

They were 61 for 1 after 14 overs before Warner was dismissed for an engaging 32. At 120 for 2, Steve Smith fell lbw to Mark Wood for 41. When Marnus Labuschagne, having pocketed his first half-century of the series, and Head (48), were in the midst of a rebuild, both were dismissed in the space of 23 deliveries for the addition of just six runs to leave Australia 189 for 5.

Then came some immediate de-ja-vu as the biggest stand of the innings so far was broken on 65 when Cameron Green was trapped lbw by Woakes, who then removed Marsh four balls later to make it 255 for 7. Carey’s edge attempting to leave Woakes for the second innings in succession brought the skipper, Pat Cummins, to the crease, joining Mitchell Starc who looks set.

With questions over Warner’s place in the XI before Australia opted to drop Todd Murphy and bring Green back in, the left-hander began with the verve of a man hell-bent on repaying that faith. The first ball of the innings, a loosener from Broad, was carved to the extra cover boundary for four.

This was the first time in 15 years that England have bowled first in a Test featuring Anderson and not given him the first over. Given Broad and Warner’s history, it made sense to go against convention. And with Anderson opening matters from the James Anderson End, that quirk made up for any perceived slight.

Warner looked in good touch, particularly when whipping a short ball off Woakes through square leg with ease for his third boundary. It meant by the time he was dismissed – Bairstow taking a regulation catch off Woakes, who was bowling at Warner from over the wicket – there was a platform in place to allow Smith and Labuschagne to bat at their own pace.

A stand of 59 had Smith as the aggressor, a role he assumed at the very start of his knock when he hooked the first ball from Woakes over Wood at backward square leg. Had the Durham quick not charged in, he might have been on the fence to take the catch. Instead, it bounced once before crashing into the advertising boards.

Both batters would make it through to lunch before Wood struck five overs after the break to make amends for his eagerness. Smith strayed outside the line to work a delivery to the leg side, only for extra pace through the air and nip off the surface to trap him in front of off stump. Umpire Joel Wilson did not give the decision on the field, and it was only after Stokes called for a DRS review that the impact with the pad, and projected path of the ball into the stumps, confirmed Smith needed to be sent on his way.

Labuschagne’s dismissal required similar confirmation from the television umpire. Wilson again turned down the on-field appeal, this time after Moeen Ali had turned one into the right-hander who had pressed forward. Too much turn might have been the issue, but down came confirmation the top of leg stump would have been struck.

Labuschagne was understandably crestfallen. He had grafted for his half-century from 114 deliveries, a 26th Test score of fifty or more, after what has been a poor six innings so far by his lofty standards. His patience to make this knock count was evident in the 62 deliveries between his fourth and fifth boundary, which was timed crisply through cover, breaking a streak of 20 balls without a run.

At the other end, Head was emerging out of the usual barrage of short balls with decorum, making it to 48 having worn blows from Wood under the armpit second ball and then on the helmet, via a deflection off his shoulder, when on two.

After some expertly guided boundaries through the leg side, he was able to convince England to go short to him. And after making it to tea on 47 from 62, he emerged slack to meet a short ball from Broad with an uncontrolled hook behind square. Joe Root scampered around from fine leg to take a smart catch.

Though England did not miss any clear-cut chances, the botched opportunity to run out Marsh on 35 from Stokes, when the former was sent back by Green, could have been terminal. Marsh looked in the same mood as he did when he struck 118 in the first innings at Headingley. And maybe only a man in this kind of form, having struck seven fours and a gorgeous straight six off Moeen, could have got anything on the delivery served up to him by Woakes in the 63rd over.

A bit of movement in, followed by seam away drew the merest tickle and provided those in the stands with the most spectacular moment of the day. Bairstow’s troubles this summer are well known, and it spoke of the support his team-mates have for him that all charged towards him after pulling off one of the catches of the series. The crowd, too, were particularly buoyant, though only when the jaw-dropping nature of his one-handed take was replayed on the big screen were they able to fully gauge what Bairstow had done.