Finn fiver puts England on the brink
Fast bowler Steven Finn took five wickets to rock Australia on day two of the third Ashes Test at Edgbaston and put England on the brink of victory and a two-one series lead.
Finn finished the day with figures of five for 45 in 13 overs as Australia were 168 for seven at stumps, only a lead of 23 runs with three wickets remaining.
The 26 year-old Finn delivered a devastating spell in the afternoon session claiming the wickets of Steve Smith (8), Michael Clarke (3), Adam Voges (0) and Mitchell Marsh (6) in quick succession to rock the Aussies' batting line-up.
Only opener David Warner offered any resistance to Finn, and the England attack, blazing his way to 77 off just 62 balls before James Anderson got him caught in the covers.
Peter Nevill (37*) and Mitchell Starc (7*) will resume for the visitors on Friday with a monumental task in trying to put up decent score for England to chase.
Earlier, Australia did well to fight their way back into the contest as they bowled England out for 281 after the home side resumed on 133 for three in the morning.
Mitchell Johnson kicked things off in his first over of the day, removing Jonny Bairstow and Ben Stokes within two balls of each other.
Moeen Ali hit a brisk half-ton and Stuart Broad a gritty 31 to hold Australia up but it wasn't long before the innings was wrapped up.
Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon claimed three wickets each for Australia while Johnson ended with figures of two for 66 from 16 overs.
Latest
-
NewsJos Buttler understands ‘complicated’ decision for players to skip Bangladesh
Alex Hales, Sam Billings and Liam Dawson are among those missing the white-ball tour to play in the Pakistan Super League.
-
NewsKyle Jamieson returns to New Zealand fold for England Tests but Trent Boult out
Fast bowler Jamison has played for New Zealand since last summer.
-
NewsJos Buttler focusing on positives despite England’s series loss in South Africa
There were some standout performances in the series as Jason Roy, Dawid Malan and Buttler all made hundreds.
-
NewsEngland hand Rehan Ahmed first white-ball call-up for tour of Bangladesh
Ahmed became England’s youngest men’s Test cricketer when he lined up against Pakistan in Karachi.
-
NewsHow are England’s prospects looking ahead of World Cup defence?
Twin defeats in Bloemfontein meant victory in Kimberley was a mere consolation for double world champions England.
-
EnglandJonny Bairstow heading in the right direction in his recovery from injury
The 33-year-old Yorkshireman underwent successful surgery on a broken leg and dislocated ankle in September after a freak golf incident.
-
EnglandJofra Archer enjoys new role as he bowls England to victory in South Africa
Archer did not open the bowling but produced career-best ODI figures.
-
EnglandSir Andrew Strauss lauds ‘extraordinary leaders’ Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes
England’s men’s team have won nine of their 10 Test matches under the new regime.
-
EnglandJofra Archer returns career-best ODI figures as England claim consolation win
England won the third and final match against South Africa but had already lost the series.
-
EnglandDawid Malan and Jos Buttler hit hundreds as England fight back in South Africa
Buttler’s men are bidding to avoid a series clean sweep and a sixth successive loss in the ODI format.