England Beat Australia In Third Ashes Test

Nevill should have been out for 53, brilliantly caught down the leg side by Jos Buttler, but England’s lack of remaining reviews cost Stuart Broad what would have been his 300th Test wicket. “It was a tough week after Lord’s”.

Clarke was honest enough to admit that he was anxious about his own form and said: “We didn’t execute with ether bat or ball”.

A continuation of the sequence will see the hosts regain the Ashes 3-2, while giving us what will surely be an incredible finish to the series. They bowled well on Day 1 and we didn’t bat anywhere near we’d have liked.

But on a surface offering less seam movement than it previously had, only swing stood in England’s way.

England could now recall Durham fast bowler Mark Wood, who took part in the first two Ashes Tests but was ruled out with ankle trouble and replaced by Finn at Edgbaston, for the fourth Test.

“You just wonder if the cricket gods have something in store for us”.

But Bell, roared on by England fans in a sun-drenched crowd, then took charge with a flurry of four fours in seven balls off Starc, including one down the ground and a classic cover-drive.

Clarke couldn’t match the effort during the English run chase, dropping Ian Bell at second slip when he was on 20.

Anderson, England’s all-time leading wicket taker in Test cricket, suffered a side strain during the Edgbaston Test. He is hoping to be fit for the final test at the Oval.

Starc, however, continued to strike the ball well and his straight six off spinner Moeen Ali saw the left-hander to an 83-ball fifty, including six fours.

Another win (or two draws) will do it. The good news for Australia is that England’s recent form is up and down like Tower Bridge: WLWLWLW. I set off for another one and then thought, he’s right.

Mitchell Johnson was used at first change in the second innings.

In the morning, resuming at 168 for 7, both overnight not out batsmen Peter Nevill and Mitchell Starc completed their half-centuries.

England registered a comprehensive eight-wicket win over Australia at Edgbaston, Birmingham in the third Test to take an unassailable 2-1 lead in the Ashes 2015.

“This was up there with the loudest I can remember at certain moments”, he said.

But in his past 28 Test innings, Clarke has reached 25 just six times.

The skipper was quickly followed by Adam Voges – a first ball victim to the rejuvenated Finn – and the West Australian’s position in the side is under threat from in-form Shaun Marsh who has scored centuries in the recent tour matches against Kent and Derbyshire.

Now he has challenged his side to back up the performance with victory in Nottingham, which starts on Thursday, that would allow them to take back the urn 18 months after losing it 5-0 left them in a downward spiral of in-fighting and recrimination.

“The captain is due to get off the plane, that’s the plan for the next test match“, he told reporters.

England captain Alastair Cook speaks with former captain Michael Vaughan at the close of play on day three of the third Investec Ashes Test match between England and Australia at Edgbaston.

“I said at the beginning of the week we have an opportunity at 1-1 to do something really special in the next three games”.