Johnson’s day but England build lead

An inspired spell of 5 for 45 from comeback man Steven Finn put England on the verge of a massive victory in the third Test against Australia at Edgbaston on Thursday (July 30).

Anderson, who celebrated his 33rd birthday on Thursday, has a brilliant record at Trent Bridge.

England had hoped to quickly take the three remaining second innings wickets but a late-order flurry pushed Australia’s lead to 120 before Moeen Ali removed Mitchell Starc 15 minutes before lunch with Australia dismissed for 265.

After England resumed on their overnight 133 for three, Johnson took two wickets – including his 300th in Tests – in three balls as both Jonny Bairstow and Ben Stokes gloved sharply rising deliveries through to Nevill.

England’s Ashes campaign has suffered a major blow with star fast-bowler Jimmy Anderson ruled out of the fourth Test due to a side strain.

Australia will begin Friday just 23 runs ahead after being reduced to 168-7 in their second innings with Finn’s incredible efforts with the ball putting the hosts on the brink of taking a 2-1 lead in the series.

The five-test series is level at 1-1.

He immediately replaced Starc with Mitchell Johnson, but to no avail and eventually more merriment in the crowd at the expense of the Australian they prefer to mock most.

Veteran opener Chris Rogers, whose 52 had been the lone batting highlight of Australia´s first innings, fell for six when he was lbw to paceman Broad.

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

Anderson had to leave the field mid-over on day two in Birmingham, wincing in pain with an injury England later described as a “tight side”.

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.

Warner conceded his side was on the back foot after losing three wickets in the first hour of the match, but suggested England’s bowlers deserve a lot of credit.

Moeen’s eighth-wicket stand of 87 with Stuart Broad proved a telling passage of play, as England scrambled to 281 all out after Johnson’s early successes made it 142 for five.

It appeared desperate for Australia when Finn, in the second over after tea, claimed the wickets of Michael Clarke for 3 and Adam Voges on a golden duck to make it 76-4. Nevill and Starc survived the rest of the day but face a daunting task on Friday.