Australian tail wags, England need 121 to win third test

Recalled paceman Steve Finn snared the scalp of Nevill to finish with career-best figures of 6-79 in the second dig.

Should England’s all-time leading wicket-taker miss the rest of the series, his side will relish holding the high ground with only the Trent Bridge and The Oval Tests still to be played.

Beginning the day with a slim lead of 23, runs came quickly for Australia – 39 in the first six overs – through a mixture of good shots, streaky fours and sloppy fielding with Starc in particular quick to punish anything overpitched.

The two sides now head to Nottingham where England will have to contend without spearhead Anderson as they aim to seal a 3-1 lead and the series, while Australia bid to keep their hopes of retaining the urn alive.

The end of an eighth-wicket stand of 64 was a relief for England, but Starc (58) was intent on making them sweat a little more and completed his 50 too with a swat over long-on for six off Moeen Ali.

Starc appeared unperturbed by the pressure of the situation though and he pushed Australia’s lead beyond 100 while simultaneously going to his fifth half-century.

Josh Hazlewood helped him add another 28, until – in the absence of the injured James Anderson – Ben Stokes struck with his second delivery of the day, the number 10 brilliantly caught by Joe Root high to his right at third slip.

That left England needing 121 to win and openers Alastair Cook and Adam Lyth negotiated a tricky pre-lunch 15 minutes before both departed after the interval in short order.

Bell then followed up his renaissance in the first innings with an array of attacking strokes, sending Starc through cover in successive balls as England fought fire with fire.

Earlier, Australia’s tail had wagged in the morning to frustrate England’s push for victory.

Johnson meanwhile continued to be targetted by the Midlands crowd, with a series of partisan chants consigning the run chase to a side-show against the backdrop of the goading of the Australian seamer.