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Steven Finn’s dream spell spells Australia’s doom in Ashes 2015 3rd Test at Edgbaston

Steven Finn ripped apart Australia's middle order, taking the huge wickets of Steve Smith, Michael Clarke, Adam Voges, and Mitchell Marsh.

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© Getty Images
Steven Finn produced some gem of deliveries to get rid of the Aussie batsmen © Getty Images

Steven Finn ripped apart Australia’s middle order, taking the huge wickets of Steve Smith, Michael Clarke, Adam Voges, and Mitchell Marsh, and essentially sealing the fate of the game in a single spell. Finn ensured that though James Anderson picked up a side strain, England never missed him for a moment. Shiamak Unwalla writes about Finn’s spell that sank Australia’s ship. READ: Steven Finn fifer ensures England advantage over Australia at stumps on Day 2 of 3rd Ashes 2015 Test

The first ball Steven Finn bowled in the second innings was pushed down the ground by David Warner for three. Finn bowled the next ball on Steve Smith’s pads; it was worked away easily off the pads for three more. The third ball was smashed away for another boundary by Warner. The fourth and sixth balls were dots, but the fifth was pulled away for four more. His figures read 1-0-14-0. The word “un-selectable” might have occurred to those with a lack of faith. But Finn would soon turn the tables, and do so in vehement fashion. READ: Michael Clarke’s captaincy in Ashes 2015 lacks flexibility

Had Finn been taken off after that one nightmarish over, the fate of the Test might have been very different. Instead, Alastair Cook gave Finn another over. He struck with his second ball, getting Smith to top-edge an attempted pull to Jos Buttler. That opened the floodgates, and there was simply no escape for the Australian batsmen after that. READ: James Anderson shows pace and bounce is not the only way to take wickets

He produced an absolute gem to Michael Clarke: full and straight with just enough deviation to take the outside edge to slip. Adam Voges — out of form, nervous, and under immense pressure — never stood a chance; he poked at a probing one on off stump to slip, where Ian Bell made a difficult catch look easy. Mitchell Marsh kept out the hat-trick ball and survived a DRS review, but fell soon, missing a straight one from Finn. After going for 14 in his first over, his next eight overs read 8-1-25-4. READ: Australia must select Shaun Marsh ahead of Adam Voges

He struck again with the first ball of his 10th over. This time it was the turn of Mitchell Johnson, getting a leading edge off an attempted flick as Australia collapsed to 153 for 7. Peter Nevill and Mitchell Starc managed to remain not out at the end of the day with Australia taking a 23-run lead, ensuring England would have to bat again. Anderson left the field after 8.3 overs , but Finn made sure his absence was not felt in the slightest. READ: Where have all the batsmen gone in The Ashes 2015?

(Shiamak Unwalla, a reporter with CricketCountry, is a self-confessed Sci-Fi geek who loves cricket more than cricketers. His Twitter handle is @ShiamakUnwalla)

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