After an Aussie mauling at Lords ten days ago, England were keen to fight back in the Third Test of a see-saw series at Edgbaston, on Wednesday morning.

Australia came out with their tails up and it was evident even at the toss, again won by Aussie captain Michael Clarke

The collective sigh of anguish was deafening. However, with conditions cool, overcast and with rain in the air, Clarke hinted that there would be a tricky spell for The Baggie Greens to negotiate. 

His words were prophetic. Few could have seen the capitulation that was to follow, however,

It was the recall of Steven Finn after Mark Wood's injury that had been the subject of most column inches pre-test.

After two years in the test cricket wilderness, Finn was keen to announce his return to the big stage and did so with aplomb. 

With Australia having put seven runs on the board, Anderson struck for the first time, catching David Warner lbw, straight on his pads. Finn then struck soon after, to dismiss the prolific Lords' double-centurion, Steven Smith to his and England's delight and reduced Australia to 18-2.

Finn took his second wicket with a peach of a yorker to dismiss captain Clarke, barely into double figures and the Middlesex man had achieved a small ounce of retribution. It was the perfect springboard for England. The Aussies continued to toil with the pace and bounce of the Edgbaston pitch but reached lunch at 72-3. 

On resumption, England took four wickets for twenty runs and had the Aussies on the ropes at 94-7, Anderson taking his fifth to dismiss England tormentor-in-chief Mitchell Johnson.

Australia had been gift-wrapping wickets to their opponents but in the face of such generosity, Chris Rogers produced a disciplined half-century, much to his credit. In the end, alas Australia were skittled for a measly 136. England had made a firm bowling statement, once more.

After bowling on a pitch that was lively to say the least, could Australia make in-roads with the pace and accuracy of Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood?

Adam Lyth and Alistair Cook played cautiously to reach 19, but once again the diminutive Yorkshireman was caught in the corden. As Ian Bell walked out on home turf, many saw this as a last-chance-saloon for the England veteran.

But Bell had other ideas. The Warwickshire man played with his usual majesty but also timed aggression and together with captain Cook put on a fifty partnership to steady the ship. 

If the visitors felt hard done by, after winning the toss in excellent bowling conditions, the balance swayed back a little in their favour. With Cook sweeping to deep mid-wicket, the opening batsman found the grateful pouch of Adam Voges at short leg, much to the disbelief of the Edgbaston crowd and indeed TV cameras alike.

With Cook gone, Bell was joined by Joe Root and the two began to up the run rate, taking England on to 132-2. Just as Bell was beginning to hit his straps, Bell then took on spinner Nathan Lyon and holed out to Warner at mid-wicket.

Johnny Bairstow negotiated the tricky few next balls, before rain ended play on a lively day one in Birmingham.

England will go into day two, with better conditions and with a deficit of just three runs, with seven first-innings wickets in hand, Australia have much work to do to turn the tide of momentum back in their favour. 

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About the author
Neil Leverett
33 year old writer living in London. Arsenal fan but all rounder, specializing in sporting analysis, in particular football.