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An abysmal batting performance by England has given Australia a commanding advantage in the final Test of their tour, with the tourists eager to end a frustrating summer of five day cricket on a high.

At stumps on the second day of the fifth Test, England had slumped to 107 for eight in reply to Australia’s first innings 481 – a huge deficit of 374 runs.

An England win inside two days looked possible at one stage, but they will have to return today to finish the job.

Joe Root was 33 not out and Jonny Bairstow two not out in a match where an England victory would give them an unbeatable 3-1 lead in the five-match series and see them regain the Ashes.

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

England are on the verge of winning The Ashes after Ben Stokes’ second Test five-wicket haul left the hosts just needing just four more wickets for victory after the second day at Trent Bridge.

England lead the five-match series 2-1 and victory at Trent Bridge would see them regain the Ashes after they were whitewashed 5-0 in Australia in 2013/14.

(Picture: Reuters)Victory tasted so sweet for Cook’s men!

Here’s a recap of Anderson’s wickets.

Nevill’s maiden Test 50, in just his second innings, occupied 126 balls and kept England waiting longest before Australia were bowled out for 265 just before lunch on day three of the third Investec Test.

England bowler James Anderson will miss the rest of the third Ashes Test at Edgbaston and the fourth Test at Trent Bridge because of a side strain.

Whatever the decision, the pressure surrounding the selection has been reduced immeasurably by the re-emergence of Steven Finn. He is tired of the questions of how it all went so badly wrong and prefers to concentrate on the future when he hopes to be the leader of the England attack.

Nevill made his debut in Australia s 405-run second Test win at Lord s after first-choice wicketkeeper Brad Haddin withdrew to be with his sick daughter Mia.

“It’s been a mad Test match but an enjoyable one”.

Finn, who wasn’t a regular choice for the Ashes 2015 and came as a substitute in the playing XI for injured Mark Wood, has shown that his hard work has brought him back to the ideal line and length that helped him in becoming the youngest English player to bag 50 Test wickets.