James Anderson took 6-47 to skittle Australia out for 136 on the first day of the third Ashes Test at Edgbaston.
James Anderson took 6-47 to skittle Australia out for 136 on the first day of the third Ashes Test at Edgbaston.
In a remarkable 30-minute period after lunch, Anderson took four for seven in 19 balls to leave Australia gasping at 94-7, from the relatively respectable 72-3 they were at when lunch was taken.
On a day that has so far been interrupted by rain four times already, Australia would not have minded a few more delays. The visitors were all over the place after electing to bat first on what looked like a batting wonderland in the morning. The pitch looked slow and dry, showcasing the promise of a bucketful of runs in the first couple of days. Looks can be deceptive, and how.
It was slightly overcast over Edgbaston as Michael Clarke won the toss and sent out his two openers. With showers predicted through the day, Alastair Cook would not have minded losing the toss as much as he would have at Lord's. Nab a couple of early wickets in the first hour and get an out-of-form Clarke in before the conditions ease up for the batsmen.
As it turned out, England managed to do just that, and then some more. Anderson got the home side off the mark by trapping David Warner in front in his second over. Then, playing his first Test in two years, Steven Finn marked his return to the team by snaring two wickets in the space of nine balls -- not least the wickets of world No 1 Steve Smith and Australian skipper Clarke.
If 72-3 at lunch seemed a precarious position to be in, the hour that followed the interval ensured that Australia dug themselves into a cavernous hole. As Stuart Broad grabbed a couple of wickets himself following Anderson's destructive spell after lunch, the Australian score read 119-9. Opener Chris Rogers had scored 52 of them; the eight batsmen that followed him could manage a collective 51.
Quite aptly, Anderson wrapped up the Australian innings for 136, giving him his best bowling figures at this ground of 6-47. Eighteen years ago, Mark Taylor's Australian team had also been bundled out for a similar total (118) on Day 1 at Edgbaston. They did not win that match.
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