England set 121 to win third Ashes Test

Australia haven’t suffered the embarrassment of giving up a lead on day one since the 2010 Boxing Day Test, when England rolled them for 98 en route to the victory that ensured they’d retain the urn.

England’s medical team will provide an update on his condition tomorrow morning but he is likely a serious doubt for the fourth Test at Trent Bridge.

James Anderson, England´s all-time most successful Test bowler but wicketless at Lord´s, led the way with an Ashes-best six for 47 in a first innings that lasted a mere 36.4 overs.

It was not a costly moment for England, however, with Nevill going soon afterwards to a second fine take by Buttler leaping to his left, the thin edge confirmed on DRS to give Finn his sixth wicket.

England now have three days in which to seal a win that will put them 2-1 up with two to play in the five-match series.

The fourth Test starts next Thursday at Trent Bridge, a ground where Anderson reigns supreme, and indeed took 10 wickets to help beat Australia there two years ago.

Australia’s Mitchell Johnson took his 300th Test wicket, but England still built up a useful lead in the third Ashes Test at Edgbaston yesterday.

The recalled Bairstow had eased England past Australia’s first innings total by neatly guiding Josh Hazlewood to the cover boundary but the next over got a nasty welcome back to test cricket after an 18-month absence.

The one sour note for the home side was an injury which forced James Anderson off the field.

“When my first over went for 14 I was questioning where it had disappeared to but after that I settled in okay and bowled some decent balls”.

“I’m always hopeful”, Warner said.

Australia’s plight worsened in the second over after tea when out-of-nick skipper Clarke (three) was caught well down at third slip by Adam Lyth, Finn striking again with his very next delivery as Voges hung out his bat and picked out Ian Bell at second slip.

However, next over Johnson got Australia right back into the match with two wickets for no runs in three balls.

Ali had been bounced out by Mitchell Johnson during the second innings of Australia’s crushing 405-run victory in the second Test at Lord’s.

Mitchell Marsh saw off the hat-trick ball, allowing it to pass by off stump, but had made just five when his bails were sent flying by the towering Finn.

Other than opener David Warner’s counter-attacking 62-ball 77, the tourists’ scorecard was dominated by a flurry of single-figure scores before rookie wicketkeeper Peter Nevill posted a gutsy and unbeaten 37.