Ashes 3rd Test Day 1 AUS 136, ENG 133/3

Stumps report: Australia have fought back at stumps on a rain-affected opening day of the third Ashes Test at Edgbaston.


The tourists were bowled out for 136 inside 37 overs, but they responded to reduce England to 133-3 before play was halted due to the weather.


England began the final session of the day on 7-0 after tearing through the Aussies earlier in the day, though they were soon a wicket down when Adam Lyth was caught by Adam Voges off the bowling of Josh Hazlewood for 10.

With Alastair Cook and Ian Bell looking like they were ready to build a solid partnership at the crease, Michael Clarke turned to Nathan Lyon for inspiration with the ball and he was swiftly rewarded as Lyon and Voges combined to dismiss the England skipper for 34.


Bell managed to reach his half-century, much to the delight of his home fans, but the veteran was sent back to the pavilion just three runs later as Lyon struck again in the 28th over of England's innings.


Joe Root (30 not out) and Jonny Bairstow (one not out) then steered the home side towards the close of play before rain forced an early halt to proceedings.



Tea Report: James Anderson recorded the 18th five-for of his Test career as England bowled out Australia inside 37 overs on day one of the third Ashes Test at Edgbaston this afternoon.


The morning session had belonged to the recalled Steven Finn, who claimed two Australian wickets as the tourists were reduced to 72-3 at lunch.





Yet, after the resumption it was all about Anderson, who struck in the second over when a misjudged leave from Adam Voges saw the ball strike the face of his bat, which left Jos Buttler behind the stumps with a routine catch.

That brought Mitchell Marsh to the crease, but the all-rounder lasted just three deliveries as he too fell to the combination of Anderson and Buttler.


The next wicket - Anderson's fourth of the day - came with Australia on just 86. Peter Nevill, who had been selected to keep wicket ahead of the experienced Brad Haddin, appeared to be expecting an outswinging delivery, but the ball kept straight and cleared out his stumps.





Wickets then continued to tumble as Mitchell Johnson played a loose drive from a tempting Anderson delivery straight into the hands of Ben Stokes with just three runs to his name, before opener Chris Rogers's resistance was broken on 52 when he was trapped lbw by Stuart Broad.


Having claimed his wicket of the innings, a second quickly followed for Nottinghamshire bowler Broad. Mitchell Starc had contributed 11 runs when he feathered one through for Buttler to grasp.


The final say would go to Anderson, though, who finished off the Aussies when he claimed his sixth wicket courtesy of Nathan Lyon, who played on to his own stumps, meaning that the tourists had been bowled all out for 136. As for Anderson, his figures of 6-47 are the best that he has recorded in any Ashes Test.




Lunch report: England have taken three key Australian wickets to leave the tourists on 72-3 at lunch on day one of the third Ashes Test at Edgbaston.


David Warner, Steve Smith and Michael Clarke have all been dismissed for Australia, with James Anderson and the recalled Steven Finn doing the damage with the ball.





The Aussies were almost a man down inside the opening over, but Warner survived a run-out following some deliberation by the third umpire.

However, the batsman was sent back to the pavilion soon after when he was bowled lbw by Anderson for two. Warner decided to review the decision, though replays proved that the ball had hit his back pad.


It got better for England five overs later as Smith was caught in the slips by Alastair Cook for seven off a Finn delivery in what was the bowler's first over of the morning.


Finn then struck again to put the hosts in a commanding position when he dismissed the helpless Clarke for 10.


Australia were given some respite when both teams were forced off the field of play due to rain, but they were soon back on before Chris Rogers (35 not out) and Adam Voges (12 not out) steered them to lunch.