James Anderson wrecked Australia with a devastating spell after lunch © Getty Images
James Anderson cleaved through Australia after lunch on Day One of the third Test of The Ashes 2015 at Edgbaston on Wednesday. Anderson took a wicket every over for his first four overs after lunch, getting rid of Adam Voges, Mitchell Marsh, Peter Nevill, and Mitchell Johnson to take five wickets. He nearly took another in his fifth over, but Mitchell Starc survived after the ball bounced short of the man at slip. Anderson’s first victim of the day was David Warner, out LBW for 2. He went wicketless after that till lunch, but after the break he was nigh unplayable. First to go was Voges, edging an attempted leave through to Jos Buttler for 16. Marsh was out for a duck, driving away from the body with no footwork at all. Nevill then committed the cardinal sin of leaving a ball on off stump and getting bowled for 2. Johnson, who scored his 2,000th Test run, then edged to Ben Stokes for 3 to leave Australia in the mire at 94 for 7. READ: Live Blog: England vs Australia 2015, 3rd Test at Edgbaston
Earlier, England dominated the first session as well with Steve Finn taking the all-important wickets of Steve Smith and Michael Clarke. Warner was dismissed for 2 off six balls before becoming Anderson’s first wicket. Smith then edged an excellent ball from Finn to Alastair Cook at slip for 7 off 18 balls. Clarke was then cleaned up by an absolute peach of a yorker from Finn as Australia were left at 34 for 3 before Chris Rogers and Voges added an important 43. READ: Live Scorecard: England vs Australia 2015, 3rd Test at Edgbaston