Finn heroics put England on brink of 2-1 Ashes lead

Mitchell Starc was out for 11, making it 119-9, falling in Broad’s wicket maiden.

“It has been a while since I’ve played Test cricket so to come here and take wickets was great”, said Finn. If we get 120-30 we’ve got to have a really hard crack.

A mere 19 matches in the 138-year history of Test cricket had ended inside two days, with the last occurrence in England when the West Indies were beaten by an innings and 39 runs at Headingley in 2000.

“We need the tail to wag”.

Anderson helped to put England on track to go in front in the series against Australia, with six first-innings wickets in Birmingham on the opening day of the game.

Clarke wasn’t alone in failing here, with Nevill so far the only Australian to bat more than 100 balls despite what Warner called a “fantastic batting wicket”.

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.

Australia’s bid to close in on England’s lead was dealt a severe blow when Broad pinned Rogers (6) lbw for the second time in the match.

Johnson’s 69-Test career has not, however, been one of uninterrupted progress, with the 33-year-old mocked mercilessly by visiting fans when he lost control of both line and length during England’s 2010/11 Ashes series win in Australia.

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.

Smith then perished for eight when he top-edged Steven Finn to wicketkeeper Jos Buttler.

300 Test scalps for Johnson, but English quicks ensure that Oz stare at Steven Finn took two wickets in two balls after tea as Australia fought to stay in the third Ashes Test and avoid the huge embarrassment of a huge defeat. Cook was unfortunate when he riffled a short ball from Nathan Lyon and it stuck in the midriff of Adam Voges who knew very little about it.

All-rounder Mitchell Marsh was caught behind for a duck and wicket-keeper Peter Nevill, retained despite Brad Haddin being available again after missing the second Test because of his daughter’s ill-health, suffered the embarrassment of being bowled for two when deliberately leaving the ball.

Warner attacked but, trying to turn Anderson legside, the left-hander ballooned a catch to Lyth in the covers to end a 49-ball innings, including 10 fours.

After looking shaky early on, Ali then took over, with a lot of success coming against Johnson, before he was finally dismissed for 59 after lunch off Josh Hazlewood, adding 87 with Stuart Broad for the 8th wicket.