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The left-armer’s full-length swing was far too good for nightwatchman Wood, yorked after a clutch of early boundaries off Johnson, and Jos Buttler, whose mediocre series with the bat continued when he was bowled off-stump, driving.

England need just three more wickets to take an unassailable 3-1 lead in the series as Australia closed day two on 241-7, still 90 runs behind.

Broad described his feelings as he came off the pitch barely one and a half hours after starting the fourth test, after going 2-1 up in the series at Edgbaston. It’s not really a straightforward decision, but there is green grass and the overhead conditions.

Joe Root scored a brilliant century as England soared to 229-3 to seize complete control of the fourth Ashes Test at Trent Bridge.

Australia required tea drink on second day of one in three Ashes Test on 73-2, continue to 72 behind England by using Chris Rogers and Steven Smith the boys to plummet.

At Trent Bridge this week, Clarke will merit hero or fall-guy status as he tries to keep alive Australia’s hopes of retaining the Ashes. You don’t play forever and think “who is irreplaceable”?

Anderson helped to put England on track to go in front in the series, with six first-innings wickets in Birmingham.

Anderson pulled up sharply after bowling the third ball of the 33rd over of Australia’s second innings, then aborted his run up for the fourth and immediately left the field looking in some discomfort.

Pakistan had already won the Test and ODI series and capped the Sri Lanka rubber on Saturday by displaying their brighter dimension of unpredictability to win the second T20 against the Islanders in Colombo.

Cook confirmed that Durham’s Mark Wood, who took four wickets on his Ashes debut as England won the first Test in Cardiff, was likely to be tasked with filling the chasm, having recovered from an ankle problem.

Defiant and angry Australian captain Michael Clarke vowed to keep playing on after the Ashes series with England, with those suggesting he was finished talking “a complete load of rubbish”.

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.

His record at The Oval is less stellar – 35 wickets at 33 – but his loss would be a huge boon for the Australians, who this afternoon were fighting to cling on in the third Test at Edgbaston.

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.

Shane Watson (left) at training with Australian coach Darren Lehmann.