England’s first innings hero James Anderson was in the middle of his ninth over in the second innings of the 3rd Ashes Test against Australia when a side strain forced his out of the field. It was a massive blow to the hosts, but more or less, he had done his job.
By the time Anderson left the field, England had found another performer in pacer Steven Finn, who captured five Australian wickets, which was incidentally his fifth five-wicket haul.
And, by the time the stumps were drawn on the second day of the 3rd Ashes Test, Australia were 168 for seven and had a lead of a mere 23 runs in the second innings.
Earlier, Moeen Ali’s rapid 59 helped England reach 281, taking a first-innings lead of 145, wherein off-spinner Nathan Lyon bowled a beautiful spell and was well-complimented by the pacers.
Ali’s and Broad (31) put on a valuable 87-run partnership for the eighth wicket to enhance England’s control in this 3rd Ashes Test match.
Comparatively, it was a simple case of big batting let-down by the Australian batsmen. In the second innings, David Warner’s dashing unbeaten fifty kept Australia clinging on in the 3rd Ashes Test.
Playing in typically aggressive style, Warner took the attack to England’s bowlers with a 35-ball fifty. If he hadn’t played this knock, England wouldn’t have anything to worry about after they dismissed veteran opener Chris Rogers and Steven Smith to leave Australia at 62 for two.
It’s still hard to believe that this is the same team which had outplayed England in all departments of the game only in the last Test match at Lord’s. As they say this is all in the game and England are right on top. It’s only a miracle that can save the Aussies in the 3rd Ashes Test.
