BIRMINGHAM: James Anderson took four wickets for seven runs in 19 balls during a dramatic spell after lunch as Australia slumped to 99 for seven before rain stopped play for a second time on the first day of the third Ashes Test at Edgbaston on Wednesday.
Chris Rogers was 50 not out and Mitchell Starc one not out, with Anderson having taken five for 23 in 11 overs when rain halted proceedings for 20 minutes at 2:55pm local time (1355 GMT).
It was an impressive turnaround for Anderson, England's all-time leading Test wicket-taker, who went wicketless during Australia's 405-run second Test win at Lord's with match figures of none for 137.
Australia captain Michael Clarke won the toss and batted despite the overcast conditions and green-tinged pitch which promised to offer more sideways movement than was on offer at Lord's.
The tourists were indebted to Rogers, the 37-year-old left-handed opener, who scored his ninth fifty in 11 Test innings on Wednesday.
Rogers, who plans to retire after the end of the Ashes, was given the all-clear to play at Edgbaston after suffering a dizzy spell at Lord's caused as a result of being hit on the head by an Anderson bouncer during the course of his Test-best 173 in the first innings.
The five-match series is level at 1-1 after England won the first Test in Cardiff by 169 runs.
Comments
Comments are closed.