It's a one-innings shootout at a thrilling Ashes opener after England bowled out the Australian team at 386 to take a narrow first-innings lead of seven runs on Sunday
England's Stuart Broad (R) celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of Australia's Scott Boland on day three of the first Ashes cricket Test match between England and Australia (Pic: AFP)
It's a one-innings shootout at a thrilling Ashes opener after England bowled out the Australian team at 386 to take a narrow first-innings lead of seven runs on Sunday.
After impressive performances by the likes of Travis Head, Alex Carrey and Usman Khawaja, Australia seemed to have an edge over the hosts at the end of Day two.
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The visitors resumed the third day at Edgbaston on 311-5 and was all out for 386 right before lunch as England seamers Stuart Broad (3-68) and Ollie Robinson (3-55) bounced their way through the lower order.
At 338-5, Australia had looked like taking a useful first-innings lead.
Robinson claimed the key wicket of Usman Khawaja for a superb 141. The Australia opener, who hit his first test century in England on Saturday, was bowled after advancing and then stretching in an unsuccessful attempt to stop the ball hitting his off stump. That ended a useful partnership for the seventh wicket of 34, with Australia captain Pat Cummins providing 27 of those runs. At that stage Australia was 20 runs behind.
James Anderson had made the breakthrough for England in the fifth over of the morning session, bowling wicketkeeper-batter Alex Carey for a 99-ball 66. Anderson's delivery reached the stumps to leave Australia 55 runs behind England's 393-8 declared.
Also Read: Ashes 2023: Khawaja ton, fifties by Travis Head, Alex Carey help Australia to 311/5 in first Test
Cummins came to the crease at the start of the visitors' tail but again proved that he can bat well, and smashed Moeen Ali for a six and then another in the same over, casting a dampener over the 36-year-old all-rounder's birthday.
Cummins played a true captain's innings, hitting 38 with three sixes. He was the last man out, again to a short-pitched delivery from Robinson and caught by England captain Ben Stokes.
Ali, who had come out of test retirement for the injured Jack Leach, appeared to have a finger injury, sending down a couple of full tosses, and left the field.
Australia had reduced the deficit to 16 when Nathan Lyon hooked a short-pitched delivery from Robinson to give Ben Duckett a low catch near the boundary. No. 10 Scott Boland offered a tame close-range catch to Ollie Pope at silly point after another rising delivery from Broad.
(With AP inputs)
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