By: Drcricket7 Staff
On seaming English conditions, not many can stand tall against England’s James Anderson and Australia were no different. The visitors slumped to a 136 all out against England after winning the toss on the first day of the 3rd Ashes Test at Edgbaston on Wednesday.
Anderson took six wickets and literally ran through the Australian batting line-up. He conceded only 47 runs from his 14.4 over spell. He also had a deadly spell of four for seven in 10 balls after lunch, as Australia were dismissed inside 37 overs.
Ironically, this was the same Anderson who went wicketless in the 2nd Ashes Test at the Lord’s. This was the match which Anderson’s team lost by 405 runs to Australia and levelled the series 1-1.
However, England were a different team in the 3rd Ashes Test thanks to James Anderson’s devastating spell, and now they can dream of turning it around.
From the performances of the England bowlers, it’s clear that Australia will have to bat out of their skin to save this Test match after losing initial advantage to the home team.
Meanwhile, Anderson’s colleague Steven Finn, who was playing in place of injured Mark Wood, took two wickets. For Australia, it was again opener Chris Rogers who stood his ground with a fighting 52. The next best score came from Adam Voges’ bat (16).
Incidentally, this was Rogers’s ninth fifty in 11 Test innings. Earlier, he was cleared to play following a balance problem in the inner ear caused by being hit on the helmet by an Anderson bouncer in 2nd Ashes Test at the Lord’s.
The stumps were drawn after rain forced an early closure of play and at that time England were 133 for three and had a deficit of just three runs. Joe Root was 30 not out and Jonny Bairstow one not out after Ian Bell made 53 on his home ground.
Captain Alastair Cook was out on a very unfortunate fashion. He was accidentally caught by a short-leg fielder while playing a pull shot. But, still, it is advantage England in the 3rd Ashes Test.
