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England trail Australia by 3 runs at stumps on Day 1 of 3rd Ashes 2015 Test at Edgbaston

James Anderson was the star of the day for England with figures of 6 for 47.

England dominated Day One of the third Test © Getty Images
England dominated Day One of the third Test © Getty Images

England reached 133 for 3 and trail Australia by 3 runs at stumps on Day One of the third Ashes 2015 Test at Edgbaston on Wednesday. Joe Root was unbeaten on 30 with comeback man Jonny Bairstow 1 not out after Ian Bell was dismissed for an attractive 53 on his home-ground of Birmingham. Alastair Cook looked set for a big score, but was unlucky to be dismissed for 34, pulling a rank short ball from Nathan Lyon right into the arms of a ducking Adam Voges. Adam Lyth continued his lean patch, edging one from Josh Hazlewood to Voges at slip for 10. Bell threw his wicket away late in the day, looking to go down the ground against Nathan Lyon only to be caught well by David Warner running backwards. READ: Live Scorecard: England vs Australia 2015, 3rd Test at Edgbaston

Earlier, James Anderson vindicated himself after a wicketless match at Lord’s as he took four wickets in 19 balls after lunch to help England rout Australia for 136. Anderson had previously taken the wicket of David Warner — incidentally the first wicket of the match — in the first session of the day. But it was after lunch that Anderson the destroyer came to the fore. He took a wicket every over for his first four overs to complete yet another fifer. Australia, already in trouble at 72 for 3 at lunch, were soon staring down the barrell with Anderson completing his five wickets by removing Adam Voges, Mitchell Marsh, Peter Nevill, and Mitchell Johnson. Voges was the first to go, edging an attempted leave to be dismissed for 16. Marsh drove away from his body and was caught behind by Jos Buttler for a duck. Nevill was bowled for 2 after leaving a delivery on off stump. Johnson then edged to Ben Stokes at slip for 3to leave Australia in shambles at 94 for 7. Anderson came back to take the final wicket as well, ending with tremendous figures of 6 for 47. READ: Live Blog: England vs Australia 2015, 3rd Test at Edgbaston

Stuart Broad then came to the party, getting Chris Rogers out LBW for a well-compiled 52 off 89 balls. Rogers asked for the review, but the replays showed that he was out on all counts. Broad was not yet done, getting Mitchell Starc to edge behind after he tried to leave one outside off stump. He was out for a 20-ball 11. Sadly for Australia, no one barring Rogers scored more than 16, though the last wicket pair of Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon added 17 to take Australia past 130. READ: Brad Haddin dropped from 3rd Ashes 2015 Test squad due to bad form, admits Rod Marsh

Earlier, England dominated the first session, reducing Australia to 72 for 3 at lunch on Day One of the third Ashes 2015 Test at Edgbaston on Wednesday. David Warner survived just six deliveires, while Steve Smith and Michael Clarke departed early as well. Warner was dismissed for 2 off six balls, getting out LBW to James Anderson. He reviewed the dismissal, but the TV replays showed that the umpire was right in adjudging him out. Steve Smith, batting at No. 3 as usual, was unable to replicate his sensational performance in the second Test at Lord’s, edging to slip for 7 off 18 balls. His namesake Steven Finn, bowling his first over of The Ashes 2015, was hit for a boundary but responded with the ideal delivery. It pitched on middle and off, swung just enough to take the edge, and went to Alastair Cook at slip. Australia were reduced to 18 for 2, with both of their form batsmen back in the hut. In walked Michael Clarke, who was immediately troubled by Finn. READ: Matthew Hayden ctiticises selectors on Brad Haddin’s omission in 3rd Ashes 2015 Test at Edgbaston

Clarke managed to get a couple of streaky boundaries before being clean bowled by a Finn yorker for a run-a-ball 10. Chris Rogers played a chancy innings, frequently hitting the ball in the air but in the gaps, while Adam Voges played a compact innings to ensure that Australia lost no more wickets at lunch. Australia crushed England by 405 runs in the second Test at Lord’s after England recorded a 169-run win in the opener at Cardiff. There was a shadow of doubt over Chris Rogers’ availability after he was struck on the head. England made two changes, with Gary Ballance and Mark Wood being replaced by Jonny Bairstow and Finn. Australia made no changes, with Brad Haddin staying out in favour of Peter Nevill. The series is currently level at 1-1, but England look good to make that 2-1 one day into the third Test. READ: James Anderson takes 5 wickets against Australia on Day 1 of 3rd Ashes 2015 Test

Brief scores:

Australia 136 (Chris Rogers 52; James Anderson 6 for 47, Steven Finn 2 for 38, Stuart Broad 2 for 44) lead England 133 for 3 (Ian Bell 53; Nathan Lyon 2 for 3) by 3 runs.

Full Scorecard

(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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